By GARY DOVE
for the Daily Telegraph
WELCH — With the score of Tuesday evening’s James Monroe-Mount View girls’ basketball game tied at 46 and only 1.8 seconds left in regulation, Golden Knight freshman Destiny Robertson calmly went to the foul line on Ergie Smith Court, at the Castle, for two free throws.
The first appeared to be too long, but hit the board and bounced through the net for a one-point Mount View lead. Seconds later, the next attempt provided less drama as it cleared the rim and tickled the net as it dropped through.
With those two points, the Lady Knights improved to 11-4 on the season with the 48-46 win, while dashing the Lady Mav hopes for an upset.
It was only fitting that the nail-biter of a game came down to the last seconds to decide the winner, as there were 10 lead changes and seven ties.
Junior Keisha Johnson paced the Lady View with 10 points, followed by senior Victoria Bright’s nine.
Junior Mikaila Moran and senior Carter Shiflet led the Lady Mav offensive attack with 13 and 11 points respectively.
Mount View’s bench was a major factor in the decision, outscoring the visitors’ subs 17-5.
After the Lady Knights’ win, one would have mistakenly thought they had lost, listening to a disappointed head coach Harold Smith.
“We made so many basic mistakes, doing things (mistakes) I thought we had worked out,” he said. “It was an ugly win, but it was a win. That’s the worst game we’ve played all year.”
“There’s no way this game should have come down to the end, with a freshman on the line, and I’m so proud of her (Robertson) for making two free throws.”
For the contest, Mount View knocked down five three pointers, while the Lady Mavericks did not convert from behind the arc.
James Monroe held a decided edge in visits to the charity stripe (28), but could convert but half of those shots, while the hosts canned 9-of-15 free throws, including the two at the end.
A pair of ties in the first highlighted one lead change on a Rebecca Sparks 16-foot jumper with 4:20 left in the inaugural frame.
Sophomore Jasmine Lash started a 10-4 Mount View run early in the second with a trifecta from the front, as the Lady Knights took a 20-16 lead with just under two minutes in the half, and held on, despite three Carter Shiflet points, to hold a 20-19 edge at intermission.
Kenisha Swanson and Robertson scored five and two points respectively early to help the View take a 31-24 advantage in the third before Moran scored three in a nine point JM run to conclude the quarter, giving the Lady Mavericks a 33-31 lead heading into the fourth.
That lead held until just under the five minute mark when Johnson scored on a Tamia Joyce assist and then freshman Kaitlyn Gillespie downed both ends of a one-and-one to put Mount View back on top 43-42.
Sparks for JM and Bright for MV traded two points each, Sparks via the foul line and Bright on a Gillespie assist, to again swap the lead.
Sophomore Megan Bailey’s freebie at the 2:40 mark produced a tie at 45.
Sub Chantel Vineyard’s foul try gave the hosts a 46-45 advantage with 1:24 showing, but that was quickly nullified and the score tied again when Loren Throckmorton made a charity toss for the Lady Mavs.
James Monroe had three shot tries in the final minute before Robertson was fouled, leading to the game winner.
The 2-11 Lady Mavericks will host Mount View Friday, while Mount View will travel to River View tonight.

At the Castle
JAMES MONROE (2-11)
Carter Shiflet 5 1-6 11, Laine Shiflet 3 3-6 9, Rebecca Sparks 3 2-4 8, Mikala Moran 4 5-6 13, Loren Throckmorton 0 1-2 1, Megan Bailey 1 2-4 4. Totals 16 14-28 46.
MOUNT VIEW (11-4)
Tamia Joyce 3 0-1 6, Keisha Johnson 4 1-3 10, Jasmine Lash 2 0-0 6, Victoria Bright 3 3-5 9, Kaitly Gillespie 2 2-2 7, Kenisha Swanson 2 0-0 5, Destiny Robertson 1 2-2 4, Chantel Vineyard 0 1-2 1. Totals 17 9-15 48.
James Monroe......10 9 14 13 — 46
Mount View...........10 10 11 17 — 48
3-point goals — JM 0, MV 5 (Lash 2, K. Johnson 1, Gillespie 1, Swanson 1). Fouled out — JM (L. Shiflet), MV (K. Johnson, G. Brown).