The best - nicest - thing one could say about Friday night's Perry-Xavier basketball game was in the end players decided the outcome.

Between rival fans constantly jousting verbally with one another, officials adjusting calls and clock during the tense final minute it was a bizarre yet thrilling game to view in the 2021 regular-season finale for both schools.

#3 Xavier fired the last salvo - a game-winning three by Mia Davis at the buzzer - to nip #7 Perry, 62-60, in a 6A Premier Region game at Xavier's Activity Center. Xavier's win was its 11th in the last 12 games and seventh in a row. Perry saw its eight-game winning streak snapped in heart-breaking fashion.

The contest featured huge offensive nights for a player on each team. Xavier freshman Sarah Miller racked up 27 points. Perry sophomore Khamil Pierre did a little better, netting 34 points. 

Both teams wait for Saturday morning's final power-rankings and state tournament pairings. Xavier (11-3) knows it will host a first-round game when the playoffs begin on Tuesday. Perry (12-5) is hoping for the same and will host as long as it finishes eighth or higher in the rankings.

Xavier led nearly the entire way, but didn't look like they would pull away until early in the fourth quarter. It didn't look good for Perry with 6:10 left as Xavier took a 54-45 lead with 6:10 to go on a putback by reserve Toni Garcia.

An 11-1 run, however, over the next five minutes put Perry up, 56-55. The go-ahead bucket was a three by starter Leah Davis, her only points in the game with 1:20 to play. Perry notched its biggest lead (58-55) with 50 seconds left as Pierre went one-on-one with her defender at the free-throw line and drove strong for her final points.

Xavier regained the lead (59-58) in its next two possessions with Miller hitting two layups  - the last on an inbounds play with 15 seconds to go. Perry's last possession was next with senior guard Nicole Smith (13 points) drawing a foul with five seconds left. That foul was waved off as one referee had awarded a timeout to Perry first.

Perry got a reprieve as Smith drew a foul again, with :03 left. Smith sank two free throws and the Pumas led 60-59. Xavier quickly inbounded the ball and two passes were completed moving the ball to the backcourt side of midcourt. The timout call by Xavier coach Jennifer Gillom was recognized with :01 on the clock. Referees decided during the timeout :02 should be on the clock.

Miller inbounded the ball to Victoria Salcedo who fired sent it sharply to the hands of Davis left of the arc. Davis (17 points) heaved up a three and it banked in. Referees signaled it beat the buzzer. Davis did not call bank on the shot, but it didn't matter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perry (12-4, 5-2) vs. Xavier Prep (10-3, 5-2)