Highland continued its early-season assault on the win column Wednesday night, relying on clutch play in the final period and overtime from a freshman and sophomore to turn back Chaparral for the second time this season, 61-53, in girls basketball action at Highland High.

Sophomore Mattie Lamb tallied on a putback of her own shot as the buzzer sounded to end regulation tying the game at 45. It was the continuation of a fine stretch for Lamb, who scored six or her team's final eight points in the final quarter. Lamb (game-high 16 points) added two free throws in overtime and the Hawks made 9-of-10 free throws in the extra session to deny Chaparral a bit of revenge.

The teams met 11 days again at Highland's Thanksgiving Invitational. Highland won that night, 51-37. Chaparral is 7-3 for the year with its losses to Highland and Mesquite. Highland's only loss is to unbeaten Seton Catholic.

"It was a wild game," Highland coach Miner Webster said after watching his team improve to 9-1. "We threw the ball away a lot in the first half. Got rattled. We weren't making free throws and and made a lot of bad turnovers. I guess I have to be pleased we still won because Chaparral is a good team."

The freshman who made waves for Highland was guard Airiana Madanski. Madanski played in a reserve role and was averaging nine points a game. She finished with six points, but didn't score until there were 25 seconds left. That's when she stepped to the free-throw line and calmly sank two free throws to tie the game at 43. 

Chaparral's top scorer -- Maddie Vick -- gave the Firebirds the lead 45-43. She used a screen at the top of the key and drove strong to the basket for a layup with 10 seconds left. Highland managed to send it to overtime thanks to Lamb's putback, which was aided by teammate Kamryn Brown keeping the ball alive after Lamb missed with four seconds left.

The teams traded baskets and leads the first two minutes of overtime. Madanski hit a short jumper to put Highland on top 47-45, but Maddie Vick (team-high 14 points) answered quickly with a three for a 48-47 edge. Highland senior Hannah Cohrt (15 points) sank a three to put Highland up 50-48. Chaparral tied it a final time at 50-50 on a 12-foot jumper by Kylie Fisher. Highland nabbed the lead for good when senior Alyssa Navarrete (13 points) followed her own miss for an easy layup with 2:21 left in OT. That initiated a 10-0 run that finished the Firebirds.Summer Menke added 12 points and Fisher and Kelli Burnham nine points apiece for Chaparral.