By Don Ketchum

Free throws aren’t free when you don’t make them. They can prove to be very costly.

The girls basketball team from Scottsdale Chaparral almost shot itself out of a victory on Tuesday night (Dec. 14), but managed to hold on for a 49-48 victory over visiting Mesa Red Mountain.

The Class 5A Division II Firebirds (9-3) missed their final seven free throws, which came in the game’s final 39.2 seconds. Class 5A Division I Red Mountain (7-2) could not take advantage, however. The Mountain Lions took a decent shot with 5.8 seconds left, but it did not go in as Batabe Zempare’s rebound virtually sewed up the game for Chaparral.

“Those kind of things (misses) can kill you,’’ said Chaparral coach Marcy Sanchez. “Looks like when we get to the gym for our next practice, we’re going to be shooting a lot of free throws.’’

Red Mountain went on a 9-2 run to begin the third quarter and had a 10-point lead with 1:43 left, but Chaparral scored eight quick points to only trail by three entering the final period.

Freshman Casey Rarrick scored seven of her game-high 17 points early in the fourth, and Chaparral managed to hold on.

A big offensive adjustment put the Firebirds back in the game after they trailed by 10, according to Sanchez.

“They (Red Mountain) were in a 1-3-1 (zone) most of the time, so we said that instead of sitting back and waiting, we were going to attack the basket. It got us back in (the game),’’ she said.

Red Mountain coach Martin Appel was disappointed about the outcome.

“We had our chances,’’ he lamented. “We had a 10-point lead, but then we had some defensive lapses. We would lose sight of the opponent for a moment.

“On offense, we weren’t consistent. You can see the pieces (coming together) at times, but we still aren’t there yet.’’

Rarrick hit a pair of three-pointers, one in each half, and Jenna Savaya had 12 points, including three three-pointers. Mariah Willadsen scored 15 to lead Red Mountain.

“We’re a long way from where we need to be,’’ Sanchez said. “We just have to keep working at it every day.’’

Both teams will resume play in holiday tournaments.

Chaparral will return to action on Saturday in the Nike Tournament of Champions in Chandler. Red Mountain will travel to San Diego for a tournament and will play its first game there on Dec. 27.