FAIRFIELD — A tie game late was the perfect opportunity for the Gardiner girls basketball team to show what it is made of Monday night.

No road game at Folsom Gymnasium is easy with the fans right on top of you, and it’s especially challenging when the Lawrence Bulldogs are at the height of their game. Yet the Tigers were unfazed while making a late surge that propelled them to victory.

Gardiner rode an 8-0 run in the final two minutes to claim a 55-50 win in a key Class B North showdown. Gardiner moves into first place in the region by winning a game that coach Britney Gero said stood out on the schedule.

“Honestly, we knew this game was probably our biggest test,” Gero said. “This really shows me where we’re at, and I couldn’t be more proud of this team.”

HOW IT HAPPENED

Gardiner (11-0) and Lawrence went blow-for-blow in the first half. Ashley Shores scored nine points for the Bulldogs in the first quarter, which ended tied at 10. Maddie Provost scored seven for Lawrence in the second quarter, but the Tigers answered as the teams went to the break tied at 18.

Gardiner pulled away a bit in the third quarter, leading by as many as seven points as Molly Takatsu got hot. Yet Shores and Provost continued to power the Bulldogs (7-3), with Provost banking in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut the deficit to 37-36 entering the fourth.

With the game tied at 44 with 1:46 to go, Gardiner made its move. Clutch free-throw shooting, key rebounds from Madison McMahon and a put-back by Mikayla Clearly gave the Tigers their largest lead at eight points.

“I called a timeout late and just kind of gave them a reality check to focus and execute in everything we do from here on out,” Gero said. “We’re super strong, and when we play together and stay focused, we’re a well-oiled machine. They did everything I told them to, and we pulled it out.”

A CONTRAST IN OFFENSES

One team seemed to rely on two players for its scoring; the other was about as balanced as could be.

Not a single Gardiner player scored in double figures. Seven of their eight scorers had six or more points and four of those players (Cleary, McMahon, Zoey Sullivan-Brennan and Zoey Epperson) scored four or more in the fourth quarter.

“We have a deep bench,” said McMahon, who had eight points and nine rebounds. “Whether (our players) play for a minute or whether they play the whole game, they all go out there, work hard, and try their best to work as a team and score as much as they can.”

Lawrence, on the other hand, got all but five of its points from Shores (24 points) and Provost (21), who returned after missing Friday’s game against Morse with an ankle injury. The only Bulldogs field goal by another player was a 3-pointer by Jaycie Elkins in the third quarter.

“We definitely need to (get some more balanced scoring),” said Lawrence coach Greg Chesley. “We’ve got to figure out a way for the offense to flow with Maddie there and with Ashley there. I think there’s room for them to score big but also for the rest of us to be up there as well.”

NOTABLE QUOTABLES

“I don’t think (Provost) is 100 percent — I don’t think she’s anywhere near it — but she’s a tough, gritty kid who wants to play all the time. Hopefully we can get her healthy for Nokomis and for the rematch (with Gardiner) on Saturday, but if not, next man up.” — Greg Chesley

“It was extremely hectic and hard to hear, but since you couldn’t hear who was cheering for you and who was not cheering for you, it kind of just kept you flowing.” — Gardiner freshman Alexa Quintana

STAT LEADERS

• Gardiner: Alexa Quintana (nine points, seven rebounds), Molly Takatsu (nine points), Madison McMahon (eight points, nine rebounds), Zoey Epperson (eight points, five rebounds)

• Lawrence: Ashley Shores (24 points), Maddie Provost (21 points, 13 rebounds), Leah Tibbetts (eight rebounds)

UP NEXT

• Gardiner: vs. Lawrence, 11:30 a.m. Saturday

• Lawrence: vs. Nokomis (0-11), 5 p.m. Thursday