As players on both benches grabbed each other for support, Blanche Ely star guard Joanna Harden stepped back and elevated for a shot that would either extend her stellar high school career or sink South Broward's bid for a state title repeat.

Harden's shot missed off the backboard with three seconds left allowing the Bulldogs to escape with a 53-52 victory in a FHSAA Class 6A girls quarterfinal at Ely on Thursday.

''You want your money player taking the shot,'' said Tigers coach Tommie Butts. ``There is nothing else you could do. Down one, our player had the ball in her hands.

"That is what we want. Unfortunately, we didn't make the shot at the end. The ball didn't bounce our way tonight.''

South Broward (23-4) lost to Miramar in the District 12-6A championship game last Saturday and will get another shot at the Patriots, who advanced with a 33-21 win over Douglas.

Jasmine Walker’s team-high 14 points led a balanced scoring effort for the Bulldogs. Junior 6-3 center Alicia DeVaughn had 11 points, 25 rebounds and six blocks, Krystal Saunders had 11 points and Kiara Shoats came off the bench to add seven points.

It marked the second consecutive year the Bulldogs will be moving on at Ely's expense. On their way to a sixth state title last February, the Bulldogs upset the Tigers 71-62.

"This is the type of win we need to go to Lakeland," Saunders said. "It will really motivate us. Through it all we thought we would finish strong. We didn’t drop our heads one time."

Ely looked sharp early. Harden hit a three-pointer with 36 seconds left in the first quarter and Talissa Carter converted a layup after a Shatorria Baker steal to put the Tigers up 20-10.

Talissa Carter led the Tigers (17-8) with 17 points. Melanie Ducott added 10 points and Harden, the Tigers' leading scorer all season, finished with nine points.

A wild fourth quarter preceded Harden’s potential game-winner. The Tigers, who led most of the game, went up 46-43 with 4:39 left on a three-pointer by Carter but couldn’t finish off the Bulldogs.

South Broward guard Taylor-Ashley Shaw keyed the rally with three driving layups, the second tying the game at 47-47 and the third giving the Bulldogs the lead for good, 50-49, with 1:29 left.

Saunders hit three free throws to push the lead to 53-49 but Harden came up with a steal at halfcourt and fed Amber Hanna for a layup that cut the lead to 53-51 with 27 seconds left.

The Tigers (17-8) got the ball back when Shatorria Baker stole the ensuing inbounds pass, leading to Ducott hitting one of two free throws with 16 seconds left.

Ely had two opportunities to win the game after being awarded a jump ball but Baker and Harden missed back-to-back three-point attempts as time ran out.

"First of all to God be the Glory," said Bulldogs coach Richard Walker. "Ely is a great team and well coached. We made a couple mistakes down the stretch, but in the end the ball bounced our way. I will tell anybody that Joanna is my worst nightmare. She is a clutch shooter."

SB (25-4): DeVaughn 11, Shaw 8, Saunders 11, Walker 14, Sweeting 2, Shoats 7. Ely (17-8): Hanna 7, Harden 9, Ducott 10, Carter 17, Baker 9. Half: Ely 28-22. Three-pointers: Shoats 2, Harden 1, Carter 2, Baker 2. Rebounds: DeVaughn 25, Pendergrass 7. Assists: Harden 6, Saunders 3. Steals: Shoats 3.

• Region 3-4A quarterfinal -- Miramar 33-Douglas 21: Nothing could stop Miramar's Kynesha Hepburn in the Region 3-6A quarterfinals.

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