Bingham beats Copper Hills 46-41 for Class 6A girls’ basketball state championship

Taylorsville • As one of only two seniors on Bingham’s girls’ basketball team, Maggie McCord needed to show leadership and heart if the Miners were going to win their first state title since 2007.

That’s exactly the kind of game McCord turned in as Bingham ruined rival Copper Hills’ hopes of winning its first ever 6A title by capturing a 46-41 win at Salt Lake Community College Saturday.

Only 6.2 miles separate these two massive high schools in the southwest corner of Salt Lake County. But McCord’s game of 25 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals provided just enough distance for Bingham to beat its rival.

“She’s like this energizer that keeps going and going,” said Bingham coach Charron Mason about McCord. “She has worked harder than any person I know in my life to get to this point. … Having her consistency and her leadership was something our team needed.”

Bingham rolled to an early 11-3 lead, watched the Grizzlies fight back to a tie late in the first half and then went on an 11-0 roll to take the lead for good.

Copper Hills didn’t go quietly. As the Miners tried to slow it down much of the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies’ Eleyana Tafisi got hot and brought Copper Hills to within 42-39 with 46 seconds left.

Bingham hit both ends of four critical 1-and-1 situations in the final 1:25, with McCord connecting on six free throws, to preserve the win and finish the season with an 18-7 record.

“It’s so surreal,” said McCord. “We have worked so freaking hard for this and it’s great to see it pay off. … I am so glad I was able to experience my last year with my great teammates.”

McCord was so into the game that she wasn’t even aware of how she was dominating things on both ends of the floor.

“Whatever I did, I wanted to do the best I could,” she said. “I didn’t even think about it. … I just thought about my team.”