Rincon/University players rush to the court to congratulate Alyssa Mort, far right, after the freshman hit a pair of free throws with no time on the clock to beat Pueblo.

James Gregg / arizona daily star

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Rincon/University freshman Alyssa Mort looked around for assurance, not sure she could handle the pressure heaped on her shoulders Wednesday.

Here was the situation: down by one to Pueblo with no time on the clock and two free throws coming. Make them both and Rincon earns a spot in the state tournament. Miss them, and the season likely is over.

Swish. Swish.

Mort's heroics saved Rincon in a 41-40 win in the first round of the 4A Sonoran Region tournament at Marana High School, and capped a bizarre series of events.

"I was freaking out," Mort said while wiping away tears. "I had to try to ignore everyone. I tried not to think about missing."

Her jumping, high-arching shots from the line secured the third-seeded Rangers (13-10) a spot in next week's 4A-I state playoffs.

After Claudia Figueroa made two foul shots to give Pueblo a 40-39 lead with 8.2 seconds left, Rincon struggled to get a good look as time ticked away.

Mort finally got the ball on the baseline, drove toward the hoop and took a shot as the buzzer sounded. It rattled in. One referee waved it off, while the other counted it.

While Pueblo celebrated wildly, the officials conferred and said the shot did not count. But they decided Pueblo's Michelle Yanez had fouled Mort during her shot.

In a flash, Pueblo (13-11) had its ticket to the state playoffs taken away.

"If we make a few more free throws, it doesn't even come down to that call," Warriors coach Ray Brown said. "The girls got their hearts ripped out. That's all I can say."

● Catalina Foothills 60, Nogales 56: At Marana, Taylor Ginger made two free throws to send the game into overtime, then drained a crucial three-pointer in the extra session to lead No. 3 Foothills in the opener of the 4A Kino tournament.

Nogales' Alani Gaxiola tore a hole in the Falcons' perimeter defense with a game-high 36 points.

With a distinct advantage in the post, Foothills (18-10) put its faith in the Apaches' inability to contain Keara Dunshee. The 6-foot sophomore led Foothills with 24 points, almost all of them near the basket.

● Douglas 44, Desert View 35: At Marana, juniors Sandra Montaño and Danitza Mejia scored 10 points apiece in the Bulldogs' state playoff-clinching victory.

Douglas, the Gila Region's No. 3 seed, led comfortably throughout and held off a second-half surge by Desert View's Emily McCovey, who scored a game-best 16 points.

The Bulldogs (13-12) play tonight at 5:30 against No. 2 Rio Rico (17-10) at Marana.