Welcome to the Open.

For the McClintock girls, they won’t soon forget their introduction.

The team helped tip off the new state tournament in dramatic fashion Tuesday, when it battled the young but determined Canyon View Jaguars. Two put back baskets by McClintock senior captain Shelby Shaffer clinched a memorable 60-59 first round postseason road victory.

Shaffer’s final points came after two Aiyanna Perkins’ misses, but Perkins deserved Player of the Game honors after tallying 42 points. The sophomore guard also didn’t flinch from the free throw line, converting 15 of her 16 attempts.

McClintock was seeded No. 21 in the 32-team Open but figured to give 12th seeded Canyon View a game.

“Amazing,” said McClintock coach Sydnie Lengyel immediately after the game. “Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. I’m so proud of them. We’ve been the underdogs. We got rated 21 on a 24-2 season, and we come out and won. So this is big-time for us.”

With 15.9 left in the game, Canyon View took a 59-58 lead after a left-handed lay in from Avery Spickler, who was clutch down the stretch.

But there was still plenty of time left for McClintock, who was out of timeouts. Perkins’ final shot in the game went off the front of the rim but right into the hands of Shaffer.

The senior then added the final winning touch while in the paint to send her team to the Open’s second round, where it’ll face the fifth seed, 4A Mesquite, on Thursday.

“It’s a great feeling,” Shaffer said. “Everybody dreams about this feeling.”

McClintock senior Shelby Shaffer is congratulated after scoring the game-winning points for her team. Photo by Jose Garcia/azpreps365

After a slow start to open the game, Canyon View regrouped and had the momentum by halftime thanks in part to the efforts of freshman Keira Lewis.

After a missed free throw, Lewis kept the ball in bounds after diving for the loose ball. Shortly thereafter, she drained a corner three, one of seven treys Canyon View made in the first half.

Canyon View's bench jumped for joy after teammate Keira Lewis' three just before halftime. Photo by Jose Garcia/azpreps365

Canyon View’s season isn’t over. It’ll learn Saturday morning who it will play in the first round of the 5A state tournament.

We are happy to report that McClintock coach Sydnie Lengyel's baby, Kennedie, is OK. Jarvell, Lengyel's husband, ran onto the floor to celebrate McClintock's big victory Tuesday with baby in hand. Photo by Jose Garcia/azpreps365