Photo/CODY TOMER Union Local’s Torre Kildow attempts the last shot of the game as time expires with Wheeling Park’s Alexis Bordas defending. The junior finished with 42 points for the Jets.

WHEELING — Competition at its finest.

Wheeling Park’s pressure defense and sharp-shooting met Union Local’s height and skill on Wednesday night and it did not disappoint.

In the end, Park freshman Lala Woods showcased nerves of steel as she drained a pair of free-throws with 7.5 seconds remaining to lift the Patriots 67-66 over the Jets inside The Palace on the Hill.

“To be honest, I was nervous,” Woods said. “I knew I needed to make them, but it was crazy. I just thought about how I would shoot them in practice and knocked them down.

“It was a very nerve-racking game but that’s how it’s going to be in Charleston this weekend so this helps prepare us for that.”

Union Local’s determined Torre Kildow drove the length of the floor with fire in her eyes but came up just short on an inside shot as the horn sounded and the victorious Patriots went spilling onto the court.

“Kildow was incredible,” Park coach Ryan Young said. “It’s a shame someone had to lose. All players on both teams stepped up to the challenge. Union Local is well-coached.”

Kildow was nearly unstoppable as she bucketed 42 points and six 3-pointers for the Jets.

“She did not want to lose,” UL coach Scooter Tolzda said. “We kept seeing her get better and better in practice. She works hard at her game. All of the girls handled the pressure well. This game was worth the price of admission.”

With just over 5 minutes to play, the game was deadlocked at 49-49 when Union Local delivered a 10-2 run to create a 59-51 cushion with 2:37 to play.

“At that point in the back of your mind, you’re thinking, ‘This is almost insurmountable.'” Young said. “But, kids started hitting some big shots like Natalie (Daugherty) and Lala and we got after it defensively.”

That’s when Wheeling Park went back to its pressure defense and the Patriots forced three turnovers in the final 2 minutes. Park also received two clutch 3-pointers from sophomore Daugherty and one from freshman Alexis Bordas en route to a 14-5 march to grab a 65-64 edge with 1:06 to play.

UL junior Reagan Vinskovich gave the Jets the lead with a pair of free throws with 43 seconds to go before Woods determined the final outcome.

“Lala has ice in her veins,” Young said. “I thought Natalie did at times and Bordas, as always, hit some huge shots for us. We had three young kids play like vets and we mixed in defense. Naliah Lekanudos had the steal of the game, Alexis kept so many balls alive with her rebounding and Zariah Marling did an excellent job on Vinskovich.”

Wheeling Park found itself trailing by 11 at the end of the first quarter (19-8) in large part due to four 3-pointers from Kildow, who had 18 points in the opening frame and a deep trey at the buzzer.

The Patriots proved youth doesn’t determine the poise of a team as Bordas delivered two 3-pointers and Daugherty added another to give their squad a 32-31 advantage at the half.

“The bottom line is this prepares both teams for the end of the season,” Young said. “It felt like a tournament atmosphere and it was a gut win.”

The third quarter went back-and-forth before the nail-biting firework-filled final frame.

Bordas paced Park with 26 points and six 3-pointers, while Daugherty tallied 17 points and Woods added 14.

Vinskovich finished with 13 points for UL and Hannah Merritt garnered eight.

“You have to compliment both teams,” Tolzda said. “Neither team wanted to lose. This is probably as good of a high school girls’ game as you are going to see. If anything, it shows that we can compete where we need to compete if we want to advance in the tournament. Congrats to coach Young. They have a great team.”