When Kaia Philen netted a shot  from just beyond the right side of the arc, it would be only the second time that the Salado Lady Eagles would lead in their Regional Quarterfinal game against the Boerne Lady Greyhounds.

But it would be enough to launch the Lady Eagles into the Region IV 4A tournament beginning on Feb. 28 at Texas A&M University Kingsville.

The shot gave the Lady Eagles a 54-51 lead over the Greyhounds, whom they had been chasing throughout the game.

The Lady Eagles trailed Boerne by seven at the half, 28-35 but went on a 7-point run to close to 35-39 midway through the third.

Priscilla Torczynski was able to tie the game with a minute left in the third when she grabbed her own missed shot and put it in the basket in the paint. Salado trailed 43-45 going into the fourth.

Boerne would go up four points almost three minutes into the third before Salado was able to scrap its way back, knotting the score at 49-49  on a shot by Lorena Perez. Philen tied the game on a two pointer before getting the ball with 17 seconds left and putting it in the bottom of the net for a 54-51 lead.

Boerne missed a foul shot with 4 seconds left in the game and Perez grabbed the reboubnd to end the game for Salado.

Early on, though, the game looked like the Greyhounds were going to run away with it, as they darted to a 23-9 first quarter lead.

Trailing by 14 midway through the second, Salado went on an 1 point run to get within one with just under 3 minutes left in the half.Philen hit two three-pointers and a two-point shot to lead the charge. Torczynksi also hit one from beyond the arc during the run.

Konarik put one in under the basket on an assist by Cantu to get the girls within a basket 24-25.

The Greyhounds were able to fend off the surge and took a 35-28 lead at the half. 

Philen led the girls with 25 points, including five three-pointers. Cantu had 8 points, including one three-pointer. Konarik, Perez and Katie Law all had 6 points. Reese Preston had 3 points.