SILVERTON - Like in most close games, the team that made the plays in the final minutes won this one.

Silverton outscored West Albany 11-5 in the final three minutes to take a 54-48 win that gives the Silver Foxes sole possession of second place in the Mid-Willamette Conference girls basketball standings.

"It was there for the taking for either team, and it just comes down to how the ball bounces the last couple minutes," said West coach Craig Swanson.

Deijonae Slade had 15 points for the Bulldogs (12-4, 4-2 league).

Megan Hortsch added eight points, five assists and three steals.

Julianne Bazzi had a game-high 18 points for Silverton (12-4, 4-1).

The game was tied at 43-43 before Justine Mosher's rebound and basket gave Silverton the lead with 2:43 left.

Neither team scored again until Bryanna St. Paul's two foul shots with 1:21 remaining made it 47-43 Silverton.

West's Mattea Williams got a point back at the foul line before Bazzi added four straight free throws, the last two with 41 seconds left.

Slade got a basket with 22 seconds remaining, but Mosher closed it out with one of two fouls shots.

Silverton essentially won the game at the free-throw line.

Bazzi was 7 of 8 in the fourth quarter and her team was 18 of 26 for the game.

West was 1 of 6 in the fourth quarter and 6 of 15 for the game.

The Bulldogs handled the Silverton press well, with just nine turnovers.

West got several easy baskets in the first half, pushing Silverton primarily back into a half-court defense.

"I thought we took care of the ball really well against a team that likes to pressure it up," Swanson said.

Hortsch, a sophomore guard, provided a spark, leading the Bulldogs in assists and steals.

"I thought Megan Hortsch played great for us tonight," Swanson said. "She made some big 3s. She made some big plays, set some other kids up."

West next plays at 6 p.m. Tuesday at South Albany (3-13, 1-5) to finish the first half of league play.

Jablonski, who had 10 points and eight rebounds, said she expects her team to bounce back.

"We'll come back and we'll play hard against South," she said.

Silverton 54, West Albany 48

West Albany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 6 11 11 - 48

Silverton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 12 8 19 - 54

West Albany (48): Deijonae Slade 15, Grady 2, Lepman 4, Johnston, Swanson, Williams 5, Jablonski 10, Hortsch 8, Hawk, Nelson 4. Totals: 20, 6-15, 48. 3-pointers: 2 (Hortsch).

Silverton (54): Julianne Bazzi 18, Delapp 3, Roth 8, Stadeli 7, Palmer 5, St. Paul 10, Mosher 3, Morgan. Totals: 16, 18-26, 54. 3-pointers: 4 (Bazzi 2, Delapp, Stadeli).