Ever since Mountain Range opened eight years ago, Chryisse Domenico has been the girl’s basketball coach. As long as Domenico has been coaching, the Mustangs had never beaten Legacy’s girl’s team.

But for the first time in eight years, the Mustangs (6-6) defeated the Lightning (4-8) Jan. 17, 41-37 at Mountain Range High School.

“It was so exciting,” senior Miesha Spencer said of the victory. “It was the first time we have ever beat Legacy in Mountain Range history.”

The Mustangs started the game on the right foot taking an 8-0 lead going into the second quarter. But Legacy went on a 12-4 run during the second, tying the game at 12 with a couple of free throws by Lightning junior Courtney Smith with nine seconds until halftime. With those few seconds left in the half, Spencer made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give Mountain Range the 15-12 advantage at halftime.

“She has been coming off the bench and really getting us going,” Domenico said of Spencer. “She plays great defense and gets us excited, gets us pumped up.”

Both teams came out strong after the break with Mountain Range leading by no more than four points in the third quarter. Legacy took their first lead of the game with two minutes left in the third 27-25.

Mountain Range junior Dani Ponzio tied the game at 27 with a couple of free throws 30 seconds into the fourth quarter, then helped the Mustangs take the lead back at 29-27 with a 2-pointer and six minutes left in the game.

“She has such a good basketball IQ,” Spencer said of Ponzio. “She knows where to make cuts; she knows where to pass it. It’s awesome; it makes you a lot more successful.”

Smith tied the game once again for Legacy at 31 with three minutes left. Mountain Range scored six consecutive points to take a comfortable 37-31 advantage. The Mustangs missed a few free throws toward the end, but they still finished the game in 41-37 triumph.

Mountain Range won the game without the help of one of their leading scorers senior Abby Brich. Brich suffered a concussion during the Mustangs game against Horizon Jan. 10. She didn’t get to play in their game against Boulder Jan. 14 either. Domenico said everyone played well and is proud of all the girls.

“Her presence definitely helps,” Domenico said of Brich. “It was good though that everyone stepped up and played their part in the win to make up for what we were missing.”

The Mustangs play Rocky Mountain Jan. 23 at home and then will travel Jan. 24 and Jan. 28 to play Poudre and Greeley West, respectively.