On Tuesday, February 4th, the Spartans took the floor at Don Coleman Coliseum for their final regular season game versus arch-rival Memorial. Playoff seedings were on the line, but it was more than that. They've played with and against their opponents since childhood in little leagues, summer leagues, and as high school foes. While the Spartans could revel in the knowledge that last year they advanced further in the postseason, they had yet to beat Varsity Memorial.

The game was a defensive battle. The Mustangs smothered Sophomore guard Tess Stephenson, the Spartans' top scorer. Both teams were hawks on defense and on the boards. Senior forward Kendall Davis was active in securing defensive rebounds and limiting second-chance shots. The Spartans had a slew of turnovers but kept Memorial from capitalizing. At the 1:30 mark, Senior guard Aria Taylor dropped in a 12-foot jumper from the lane for the Spartans' first score. It was 2-6 to end the quarter.

In the second quarter, Senior point guard Rachel Ashby scored on a coast-to-coast layup. She followed with a steal and score and it was 6-8. The Spartans cut down on turnovers, but with Stephenson under protective-custody and the team's shots not falling, they entered halftime down 7-11.

Spartan Head Coach Audrisa Harrison played a tight rotation. Freshman guard Ava Gibson, Ashby, Taylor, Davis, and Stephenson continued to play excellent defense and limited Memorial's scores. Stephenson had a steal and drove the court for a bucket. Another steal at half court by Stephenson ended with a basket. Senior guard Layla Lloyd entered and helped force a turnover that ended with Stephenson at the foul line. She made both free throws. The Mustangs made some threes and the Spartans entered the fourth quarter down, 13-20.

The Spartans pressed nonstop on defense in the final period. Stephenson used it to force a steal and convert two from the charity stripe after being fouled on her shot. Ashby found Lloyd in the right corner, who faked out the defense as she looked to pass inside, then eyed the rim and launched a nothing-but-net three. Davis rebounded her own shot, went back up, was fouled, and made both the shot and the ensuing free throw. It was 22-27, Memorial. Taylor inbounded to Stephenson at the block with a perfectly placed pass. Stephenson faked going outside, spun, and laid the ball off the glass to get within three points. Stephenson got a steal, and Ashby turned it into a layup. One of the opponent's best ball-handlers fouled out and the Spartans were in the Bonus. The Mustangs were hobbled. Davis was fouled while battling for a defensive rebound and sank both free throws. It was a one-point game.

The Spartans stepped up their pressure. Lloyd got a steal from the effort and delivered to Ashby, who drove hard into three defenders, seeking contact and getting it. She dropped in both free throws, and the Spartans took their first lead of the game with 2:11 on the clock. Stephenson, whose open shots from the field were few and far between, saw daylight, stepped back for a three and launched the ball into the basket, except it was good for two. It was 32-29. The Mustangs could not score. Ashby, Stephenson, and Lloyd played keep-a-away on offense as the clock dwindled. With 39 seconds remaining, Memorial was forced to foul. Ashby knocked in one of two free throws to make it a two-possession game at 33-29. On defense, Ashby forced a double-team and was hit with a questionable foul. It was her fourth. Overtime would be daunting without her. Memorial converted one free throw. At 27 seconds, Gibson was fouled. The Freshman went to the line and put one in, enough to keep the lead at four, and that's how it ended, with the entire Spartan team hugging and dancing at half court and a 34-30 win on the scoreboard.

Stephenson led with 13 points, seven defensive rebounds, and six steals. Ashby had nine points. Davis had six points and 10 rebounds. Taylor had six rebounds. The Spartans finished the regular season with a 20-9 record and 12-2 in District, good for second place. They are 18-2 in their last 20 games. Postseason awaits.