Fifteenth-ranked Mount Hebron turned up its running game last night and upset No. 5 Fallston, 60-56.
But in the final two minutes, the host Vikings could not turn the run-and-gun off and nearly let Fallston snatch away the game.
With a 56-46 lead and 1:48 left, the Vikings seemed safely ahead until they started rushing shots and playing sloppy defense. On the other hand, the Cougars kept their composure as Karen Tiedemann and Beth Rappold made back-to-back three-point plays to pull within four.
Finally, the Vikings stopped running and gunning and worked the clock. Alisha Mosley sealed the win on two free throws for a 60-54 lead with 23 seconds to go.
"It was a heart attack, but we made it through," said point guard Mosley, who led the Vikings with 21 points -- 1 more than Kathy Doyle. "We were counting on the win before it happened and we lost it, but in the last few seconds we pulled it out."
The Vikings (4-1) played terrific team defense and shot 43 percent from the field in the first half as they broke away from an 8-8 tie. Through the rest of the half, Doyle (12 points), Mosley (six points) and Sara Eberhart (six points) provided all the offense with the trio hitting 48 percent during that stretch.
"We haven't played many teams that are as quick as Hebron, and they work the ball really well on offense. It was a lot different compared to the rest of the games we've been playing," said Cougars center Candy Credito, who had 11 points, 18 rebounds and seven blocks.
The Vikings, who never trailed in the first half, suddenly began struggling in the opening minutes of the second.
Ten Vikings turnovers in five minutes helped the Cougars (4-1) come charging back from a 32-24 halftime deficit.
Lori Heffley's short jumper pulled the Cougars within 34-33 with 3:04 to go in the third quarter. To answer, Eberhart found Erin McGinnis for a three-pointer from the corner.
Then the Vikings made a mistake, leaving Rachel Simon open for an easy move to the basket. Heffley, who led Fallston with 14 points, added a 16-footer, and Jessica Mook gave the Cougars their first lead, 38-37, on her only point of the game.
After Mosley answered with two free throws, Jenny Weber hit a jumper for a 40-39 Cougars edge. That was Fallston's last lead.
Mosley's driving layup put the Vikings on top to stay, 41-40, with 41 seconds left in the quarter. Fallston missed nine of its next 10 shots as Hebron started to pull away.
Fallston coach Nancy Ferguson, whose Cougars shot 34 percent from the field, said her team was often too hesitant on offense.
"You've got to play your game and make things happen. You can't wait for things to happen. Tonight, I thought we were too tentative," said Ferguson.