A double Korah-nation for city basketball crowns (13 photos)

With her team up by seven points early in the third quarter, Korah Colts starter Carina Hargis collided head-first with a teammate.

And then came the blood.

“I took my shoes off because I assumed I was done and couldn’t play,” said Hargis.

The city final between the Colts and St. Mary’s Knights was stopped for a few minutes as the blood on the hardwood was attended to.

While Hargis was being bandaged in the dressing room, the Colts went scoreless throughout the entire third quarter as the Knights started making gains.

By the end of the third, the Knights were down by only one point.

Colts coach Gary Cormier said the city final was the hardest game against St. Mary's all year.

“After we hit 17 points there seemed to be a lid on the basket, that’s a credit to [St. Mary’s] defence,” said Cormier.

Twelve seconds before the end of the third quarter, Hargis emerged from the dressing room with her forehead bandaged, changed from her blood-stained shorts and sat on the bench.

She re-entered the game at the start of the fourth.

Within seconds Hargis scored on a put-back off an offensive rebound.

“You always talk about someone stepping up. She came back in it, got the girls going and made some big plays,” said Cormier.

The Knights briefly worked up to a 3-point lead early in the fourth, but 3-pointers by Hagris and teammate Averi Bodnar — and clutch free throws by Tori Ivey — contributed to a 15-point fourth quarter for the Colts and the city championship.

Knights head coach Dave Zagordo said this was a tough loss, but recognized there was a lot to build on.

“We took the lead in the second half, which was shocking. We shut them down in the third. Defensively we did an outstanding job and everyone contributed,” said Zagordo.

Knights player Alicia Gibbs led all scorers with 16 points, while Emma Filion scored five points and was a key rebounder and shot-blocker throughout the game.

The Colts relied on Ivey to control the ball — and the pace of the game — late in the fourth.

Zagordo said the Knights’ game plan coming in was to limit scoring chances for Ivey.

Cormier noticed.

“They played her aggressively all game. She was getting bumped. I am so proud [Ivey] kept her composure during the game. That isn’t easy when you’re a marked player.”

Ivey, who is accustomed to being a high scorer, was held to just 7 points in the game and missed 4 free throws in a row during the fourth.

Despite the misses, Ivey took control of the handle and didn’t squander the opportunity to hit her last two free throws.

“I think because I missed those free throws it made me want the ball back and make plays more. I knew I could do more [for my team] so I decided to try and get to the rim, get another chance at those free throws and hit them,” she said.

The senior girls Colts won 32-28 over the Knights.

In the junior girls final, teams from the same two schools fought for the title, but the junior Colts were dominant, winning 51-30.

Colts junior girls head coach Winston Ivey said his team controlled the entire game.

“They figured it out that they have to attack the rim, and they did. St. Mary’s opened up by pressing. I said, ‘if they are going to press you then you have to score on them,’ and they did,” said coach Ivey.

Taylor Elliott of the junior Colts led all scorers with 16 points, Makenna Cameron came off the bench with 11 in the win.

“My girls showed up tonight,” said coach Ivey.

(PHOTO L-R: Carina Hargis and Tori Ivey hold up the trophy presented immediately after the Korah Colts won the senior girls city basketball final 32-28 over the St. Mary's Knights on Saturday. Kenneth Armstrong/SooToday)