Playoff basketball: Pinnock plays hero for Somerset-Canyons; Hendricks powers Berean
Eighth-grader Alana Pinnock hit a layup with less than 10 seconds remaining and Somerset-Canyons withstood a final heave to defeat Cardinal Gibbons 58-56 in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs on Monday in Boynton Beach.
The Cougars (21-5) ran a screen out to Pinnock in their final possession, but Pinnock declined it, instead driving right and through the middle of the Gibbons (18-4) defense to convert with her right hand.
Pinnock has been a stat sheet stuffer this season. She averages 10.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 5.5 steals per game.
Somerset-Canyons is a now a game within the FHSAA state semifinals. The Cougars will face top-seed SLAM Miami in the region championship on Thursday in Miami.
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Berean Christian overpower Pine
Senior Ashley Hendricks scored 27 points to lead the Bulldogs to a comfortable 55-45 victory over Pine in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs on Monday in West Palm Beach.
The Bulldogs leapt out to a 12-1 advantage after the first quarter but Pine (19-4) clawed its way back and trailed 36-31 after three quarters. Somerset-Canyons put the game away as Hendricks hit a 3-pointer and scored nine points in the final frame.
Hendricks leads Berean Christian (15-4) with averages of 16.9 points and 12.2 rebounds per game this season.
The Bulldogs will travel to face top-seed Miami Christian (13-13) on Thursday in the Region 4-2A championship.
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Alana Pinnock plays hero for Somerset-Canyons basketball