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Richfield • Tears streamed down Breanna Nelson's face as she approached the free-throw line late in the fourth quarter — not because of anxiety from the pressure of the situation, but rather because her elbow was throbbing. Her shooting hand shook violently as the shockwaves from her elbow made her fingers turn numb.

It was the second time the Bryce Valley junior guard had hit the deck hard in the Class 1A girls' basketball semifinals Friday at the Sevier Valley Center against rival Panguitch. Both times made her burst into tears, but she refused to come out leading by three with 14 seconds remaining. She hoisted the attempt in the air.

And she missed.

Rather than grab her elbow, she tracked down the long rebound and dived to the ground to regain possession. The disregard for her personal pain allowed the Mustangs to ice the 28-24 victory on a Tyerah Tebbs' free throws to earn a spot in Saturday's 5 p.m. state championship game.

"I just put my team first," Nelson said when asked how she blocked out the pain in the moment. "I did it for them."

Added Bryce Valley coach Tyson Brinkerhoff: "Breanna, she is a woman of action. She is a hard-nosed, defensive player that proved her game on the floor."

The win snapped Panguitch's three-year reign atop 1A. Bryce Valley never has won a girls' basketball title

"It feels pretty good," Brinkerhoff said about beating Panguitch. "They know how to win here, and it's been a big challenge to overcome. I've lost to them a lot of times in this tournament. It does feel good. It feels really good."

The Mustangs finished both halves strong. After failing to convert a field goal in the first seven minutes of the second quarter, Bryce Valley closed the period on a 7-0 run to take a 16-14 lead at intermission.

Then after trailing by one point after the third, the Mustangs did not allow Pangutich to score a field goal and limited the Bobcats to two points on two free throws with 34 seconds remaining over the final quarter.

Tebbs and Danielle Brinkerhoff led the Mustangs with eight points apiece, while Brieann Birch led Panguitch with eight points. Bryce Valley won two of the three games against the Bobcats this season.

"It feels so good, I can't even explain it. [Panguitch] had their three years to shine and take state," Danielle Brinkerhoff said. "It's our turn. It's our turn to go win now."

Twitter: @trevorphibbs —

Bryce Valley 28, Panguitch 24

R Bryce Valley holds Panguitch without a field goal in the fourth quarter to advance to the state title game.

• Tyerah Tebbs and Danielle Brinkerhoff both score eight points for the Mustangs.

• The loss ends Panguitch's three-year title run.