If late game scenarios are unavoidable once the playoffs roll around, the Rye girls’ basketball team got some important reps on Jan. 25, as they buckled down in the fourth quarter to top rival Eastchester. Despite nearly squandering an early lead, the Garnets proved their mettle down the stretch, outscoring the Eagles 16-5 over the final two minutes to come away with a decisive 52-42 win over their hosts.

In the end, it was the foul shooting of the Garnets that proved the difference-maker, as Rye went a combined 22-of-29 from the charity stripe to stave off a wild comeback attempt from the Eagles.

Head coach Dennis Hurlie applauded his team’s ability to capitalize from the line, adding that, at this point of the season, converting on those chances could make the difference between a win and a loss.

“We obviously do a lot of free-throw shooting in practice but it’s tough to simulate a game situation like that,” Hurlie said. “You just hope they have enough experience and confidence, which they did, and that bodes well for us in the playoffs.”

Teaghan Flaherty led the Garnets with 15 points in a game that looked, at least early on, like a walkover for the visitors. Rye jumped out to a 29-15 lead by the end of the first half, but the Eagles battled back—led by 13 points from Fiona Teahan—and pulled within two points after Cassidy Mitchell (10 points) nailed a long-range jumper with 1:52 left to play.

“That’s a high school basketball game,” Hurlie said. “When you look up at the half, you see you’re up by 14 points and you know the other team is going to make a run; you just have to weather the storm.”

The Garnets were able to do so, thanks to an inspired fourth-quarter performance by point guard Niamh Carty, who scored six of her 10 points in the final two minutes of the game.

“Niamh struggled a little bit in the first three quarters, but it just doesn’t faze her,” Hurlie said. “But she’s a junior, she never leaves the floor and what we are hoping to do in February—and hopefully March—a lot of that has to do with her play.”

With the win, Rye improved to 11-4 on the year, but also earned an important victory over an Eastchester team that seems poised to turn the corner. The Eagles are currently 5-11, but are enjoying a late-season renaissance thanks to the return of point guard Ashley Anello, who missed the first two months of the year recovering from a torn ACL. Anello suited up for the first time last week and finally seems to be hitting her stride, scoring 11 points against the Garnets on Thursday.

“[Eastchester] just came off a big win against Harrison,” Hurlie said. “So to get a win like this, in a league game on the road, it’s always big.”