It wasn' t a good omen much of the night Tuesday to jump out to a lead  - even a fairly big one - as #11 Basha and #14 Queen Creek squared off at Basha High.

Basha, however, bucked that trend in the fifth set to come away with a 3-2 victory in tghe 6A non-region match. Scores were 25-15, 19-25, 23-25, 25-17 and 15-10. Basha ran its power-ranking match record to 7-3, just slightly better than Queen Creek which fell to 7-4.

Basha ran off six consecutive points in the decisive set for a 6-1 lead. Queen Creek pulled within two points three times, but couldn't get over the deficit the Bears fashioned early.

Basha relied heavily on outside hitter Chloe Murakami. Murakami, a senior, led both teams in kills with 29. Murakami spread her successful attacks evenly over the match. She was at her best in the final set with 8 kills (better than half the Bears points in the set).

"She had a great night," Basha coach Justine Spann said. "Thank goodness she did." Junior outside Milan Mendoza helped Basha's cause with 13 kills.

Three of the first four sets were won by the team that trailed by as many as five points early to mid-set. Queen Creek led the opening set 5-0 and lost by 10. Basha held a 19-13 advantage in the third and lost by two with Queen Creek leading once - via set point. Queen Creek led the fourth 8-1. The Bulldogs were outscored 9-1 to the finish after a 16-16 tie.

Queen Creek's attack was more balanced and deeper in defeat. Junior outside Sophie Drollinger delivered 14 kills, followed by Blaykli Bobik (10), Bailey Stones (9) and Sydney Metcalf (8).

Perhaps the highlight of the match was an assist in the final set by Basha middle Jayden Eaker. Looking like an accomplished setter, Eaker  gave Murakami a nice, high set Murakami buried for her second-to-last kill and a 13-9 lead in the fifth set. Eaker had a strong night blocking as well.

Both schools get time off from matches the rest of this week as fall break is upon much of the East Valley. They each return to play Tuesday Oct. 12. Basha travels to Liberty and Queen Creek makes a shorter trip to Highland.