By Don Ketchum

Tolleson High girls’ basketball coach Todd Nelson felt like a tourist peering over the edge of the Grand Canyon.

It’s a long way down.

“An extra one or two minutes and we probably wouldn’t be standing here,’’ Nelson said.

Nelson’s Wolverines nearly fell over the edge in their MLK Basketball Classic game against Phoenix Pinnacle at the new Grand Canyon University Arena on Monday (Jan. 16).

Tolleson led by 20 points at the end of three quarters, then held off a furious rally by Pinnacle in the fourth quarter for a 67-63 triumph.

“It’s never easy, but I’ll take it,’’ Nelson said. “I told the girls before the game, “I don’t care if we play well. I don’t care if we don’t play well. I just want to win.’ ’’

There was a lot to think about for this game – the hype of the holiday, playing in the new west Phoenix facility and the history between the two teams. Tolleson had won the last three Class 5A Division II championships – all against Pinnacle.

“I’m glad to put this one in the rear-view mirror. I’m glad it’s over,’’ Nelson said.

Tolleson never has been the tallest tree in the forest, but has made a living with aggressive defense, crisp passing and timely shooting. That was the case here as it built its lead.

The Wolverines (12-6) went on a 21-7 run in the third quarter.

Pinnacle (16-3) was whistled for nine fouls in the third quarter, Tolleson only three. Tolleson went to the free-throw line 16 times and made 11.

In the fourth quarter, Pinnacle junior sensation Sydney Wiese came alive after being off-target for the most part in the three previous quarters.

She scored 17 of her 30 points in the fourth quarter and had 22 in the second half, finishing with four 3-pointers overall.

Nelson knew she was going to keep putting the ball up.

“When she missed (early), it was “Thank you, thank you, thank you,’ ’’ Nelson said. “But you knew she was still going to (shoot). She is tough to stop. She put that team on her back. That’s what great players do.’’

Tolleson, meanwhile, went to the free-throw line another 16 times in the fourth but made only eight.

“We were still looking to score, but we were making poor decisions,’’ Nelson said.

Five players scored for Tolleson. Senior guard Desiree Smith led the way with 23 and junior guard Shay Heredia had 15, all but two of the points from the free-throw line.

Kenna McDavis supplemented Wiese’s point production for Pinnacle with 14, including a pair of 3-pointers.

Tolleson’s next goal is moving up in the Division I power-points chase. The Wolverines have been out of the top 16, largely due to the fact that the team has not played the same amount of games as many of those teams in front of it.