There were no double-digit leads in Tuesday's 6A hoops clash between #10 Highland and #13 Gilbert. But Highland's 54-47 lead - the biggest advantage for either team - looked to be decisive.

Gilbert had other ideas. Particularly junior Morgan Evenson. Evenson tallied eight of her 13 points in the fourth quarter - seven in the game's final 2 minutes and 10 seconds lifting the Tigers to a 56-55 victory at The Jungle.

Gilbert remained unbeaten in Central Region play. The Tigers are 11-7 overall, 3-0 in region. All of their region wins have come in the past five days. Highland, which had won four games in a row and six of its last seven, is 9-7, 1-2. 

Highland senior Leah Ericson, who scored a game-high 21 points, supplied the Hawks with the 54-47 lead scoring via a layup with 2:52 to go. Then it was on to Evenson's comeback heroics with two free throws at the 2:10 mark.

Highland failed to score on its next possession and Evenson sank a baseline trey making it 54-52 with 1:54 remaining. A Highland turnover with 1:49 left allowed Gilbert a possession to tie or take the lead. The Tigers settled for a tie at 54 with freshman Aspen McClees (team-high 19 points) posting up for two with 1:30 left.

Ericson missed a shot with 1:20 left. Gilbert nabbed the rebound and Evenson finished her scoring with the tie-breaking basket with 56 seconds to go. Ericson made 1 of 2 free throws with 46 seconds left to make it 56-55.

Highland got a final possession with 10.8 seconds left, still trailing by one. Ericson missed an 8-foot shot in the lane and managed to grab the rebound. Her putback was no good at the buzzer.

Gilbert hosts Corona del Sol on Thursday in its third region game in four days this week. Highland's next game is Thursday at #1-ranked and undefeated Desert Vista.