Intermountain Conference: Bend Upsets Summit 43-42

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>This game recap uses rankings from the <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2026/02/top-12-teams-in-5a-no-1-springfield-solidifies-spot-in-week-9/">Top 12 Teams in 5A</a>.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a dramatic finish to an Intermountain Conference game on Monday night, the unranked Bend Lava Bears pulled off a chaotic fourth-quarter comeback to upset the No. 11-ranked Summit Storm, 43-42.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1229059' first='Cass' last='Sandgren'], who led the Lava Bears in scoring with 16 points, proved to be the difference-maker, knocking down two free throws with less than a second remaining to seal the victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The win moves Bend (12-6, 4-1) into a tie for second place in the IMC table with Crook County (13-4, 4-1)—the Lava Bears upset the Cowgirls 55-51 in their first of two regular-season meetings. Meanwhile, Summit (10-7, 2-3) slides to fourth. The top three in the final table will earn an automatic playoff bid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/box-score {"name":"acf/box-score","data":{"game":["1632481"],"_game":"field_6a1b2c3d4e5f7"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6982f18b5e022"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Storm controlled much of the evening behind the interior presence of 5-foot-11 senior [player_tooltip player_id='991263' first='Reese' last='Aunchman'], who posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Aunchman scored 8 of Summit's 11 first-quarter points, helping the Storm build a lead they would hold for nearly the entire game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Summit appeared to have the game in hand early in the fourth quarter. After a quick first step and layup from junior [player_tooltip player_id='1229215' first='Jade' last='Durfee'] and a corner three-pointer from senior [player_tooltip player_id='1223998' first='Lucy' last='Cross'], the Storm held their largest lead of the night—a 12-point cushion (39-27) with only 5:18 left on the clock.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cross finished the game with 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Refusing to go away, Bend stumbled upon a 9-0 run behind three unanswered three-pointers—two from Olivia Unruh, her first points of the game, and one from Sandgren—to cut the deficit to a single possession, 39-36, halfway through the frame.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After Summit briefly extended the lead back to six, Sandgren sparked a late surge for Bend with a backcourt steal and score, followed by two free throws on a backside lob from Unruh to make it a 2-point game with 1:17 remaining.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Summit killed significant time on the next possession, but Bend got the defensive stop. With 13.7 seconds left, Abigail Johnson drew a foul on the take after posting up in the paint. Johnson, who finished the game with 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals, split her free throws, hitting the first to bring Bend within a single point, 42-41, and setting the stage for a chaotic final sequence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Summit rebounded the missed second free throw, and with Bend having only one team foul committed in the final quarter, the Lava Bears had to foul repeatedly to stop the clock and reach the bonus.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With 6 seconds left and Summit's third consecutive time inbounding the ball from the sideline, Bend's defense made the clutch play. Junior Lola Smith jumped the passing lane for a steal and drove to the rim, but missed the layup. Sandgren followed up to secure the offensive board and drew a foul on the putback attempt with 0.4 seconds remaining on the clock.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stepping to the line under immense pressure, Sandgren netted both free throws to give Bend their first lead since the first quarter. A desperation heave by Summit at the buzzer hit the backboard but missed the target.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Next up</strong>: Both teams play again on Friday, as Bend hosts Mountain View (7-10, 1-4), and Summit goes to Caldera (8-9, 2-3).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->