Julia Myers was the last of a series of heroes that saved the day – and the season – for another night.

Myers dropped in a free throw with 9.9 seconds left to help the Coupeville High School girls basketball team defeat visiting Meridian 42-41 in a district tournament, loser-out game Thursday, Feb. 13.

Fifth-seeded Coupeville travels to third-seeded Blaine for a 5 p.m. game Friday, Feb. 14. The loser will be finished for the season, the winner earns a berth in tri-district.

The winner will also go to Mountlake Terrace High School for an 11 a.m. game Saturday to play the winner of the Mount Baker and Nooksack Valley contest to determine the third and fourth seeds for the tri-district tournament.

Myers set up her game-winning shot by out hustling and out muscling Meridian to grab an offensive rebound on a missed free throw. The junior then overcame her own nerves to calmly sink the decisive shot.

The Coupeville defense then did its job, forcing two wild Trojan shots in the final seconds to preserve the win.

Myers wasn’t the only Wolf to impact the game.

Amanda Fabrizi was the first. She scored all six Coupeville points in the opening quarter as the Trojans went up 9-6. She also scored the first three points of the second quarter before Monica Vidoni ripped an offensive rebound and scored on a put-back.

Vidoni and fellow reserves Wynter Thorne, MaKayla Bailey and Carlie Rosenkrance played vital roles as the Wolves played short-handed.

Not only was Coupeville missing starting post Hailey Hammer, who has been out several weeks with an ankle injury, but also starting guard Maddi Strasburg was too ill to play.

Starters Bree Messner and Makana Stone, yet again, played solid all-around games. Messner recorded three points, eight rebounds and seven assists; Stone scored 12 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.

Kacie Kiel scored only two points, those coming in the final frantic minutes, but handled the top defensive assignment.

Myers finished with three points and Rosenkrance two.

Fabrizi not only ignited the offense early but drilled two shots late and finished with 18 points.

Coaches David and Amy King deftly handled their bench, keeping the starters fresh for the hectic final four minutes.

Meridian led 21-20 at halftime, then Coupeville, boosted by Stone’s six points, led 33-31 going into the final period.

Ryley Zapien led the Trojans with 16 points.

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Below, top: The Coupeville bench (Wynter Thorne, MaKayla Bailey and Carlie Rosenkrance) shows concern when Meridian has a chance to take the lead.

Below, middle: Monica Vidoni asks for some help as teammate Julia Myers goes to the foul line with 9.9 seconds left.

Below, bottom: Rosenkrance, Vidoni, coach David King and Maddi Strasburg react to Myers’ game-winning free throw.