GOSHEN — Sometimes top performers save their best for last. Facing the possible end of her high school basketball career, Memorial's Brionna Barnett certainly did.

Barnett's floater with six seconds on the clock proved to be the difference Saturday as Memorial edged Northern Lakes Conference rival Northridge 49-47 in the championship game of the Class 4A Goshen Sectional.

“It was penetrate and kick, or penetrate and if they back up then shoot the shot, and that's what I did,” Barnett, who earlier in the game had gone down with an ankle sprain, said. “I had total confidence. It felt great.”

“We knew what play they were running from earlier in the year,” Northridge coach Doug Springer said. “But we couldn't come out and challenge her because if she gets by us then we would have to rotate, and that would leave someone open. Based on what we've seen, that would've given her a dump down to Khadijah Moore on the block, and I don't want to take my chances with her on the block. That's why they're good, because they make you make that choice. All the credit to Brioanna because she hit a heck of a shot.”

Northridge, using its timeouts to effect, positioned themselves for a chance for the tie in the final seconds, but leading scorer Haley Schrock was tied up under the Raiders basket with the possession arrow pointing towards Memorial.

“We knew it was going to be dogfight going in. Northridge is one of the best programs in the area,” Memorial coach Steve Scott said. “Our girls gutted it out and found a way to win. We've grown up this year. There aren't a whole lot of kids like Brionna, and I was real hesitant to hold the ball at the end for a last shot, but when you have a kid like her it makes you feel a heck of a lot better.”

Barnett, playing around foul trouble and the injured ankle finished with 11 points. Backcourt mate Monica Jones led the Chargers' offense with 15 points.

After Northridge (19-6) took an early four point lead, Memorial (20-5) reversed that and held a four point advantage at the end of the first, second and third quarters.

However, the Raiders found a weakness in the Chargers defense and exploited it by continually driving towards the basket. With 6:40 to play, Madison Schrock connected on a 3-pointer that gave Northridge a 43-42 lead and set the stage for a tight final quarter.

The teams traded scores until the final minute, when Memorial held the ball until the Barnett dramatics.

For Northridge, Haley Schrock and Mikaela Zook each finished with 13 points.

“You can't fault our effort at all. We laid it on the line and that's what you expect,” Springer said. “Nobody expected us to come in here and really have a great opportunity to win. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose, but we're going to hold our heads high, because we have nothing to be ashamed of.”

With the victory, the Crimson Chargers have now won nine consecutive sectional crowns.

“I feel like a monkey's off my back, because I did not want to the coach to blow the (sectional title) streak,” Scott said.

Memorial will move on to face East Chicago Central, a 68-59 winner Saturday over Lake Central, in the second semifinal of the Valparaiso Regional.

“This year, we're going to get out of regionals,” Barnett said. “We have to play like we have been. Team defense, team offense and just stepping up big.”

Memorial 49, Northridge 47

Northridge — Brianne O'Dell 2-4 0-0 4, Morgan Miller 1-4 0-0 2, Haley Schrock 4-7 4-5 13, Madison Schrock 3-7 0-0 8, Mikaela Zook 5-11 3-4 13, Madison Vaught 2-2 0-0 4, Taylor Miller 1-1 1-1 3, Mary VanNamee 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-36 (.500) 8-10 (.800) 47.

Memorial — Brionna Barnett 4-11 2-4 11, Monica Jones 6-11 1-2 15, Victoria Kyle 1-3 3-4 5, Khadijah Moore 2-5 2-2 6, Alyssa Wagner 2-5 0-0 6, Paige Newvine 1-2 0-0 2, Cassidy Parsons 2-2 0-0 4. Totals: 18-39 (.462) 8-12 (.667) 49.

Scoring By Quarters

Northridge 12 9 17 9 — 47

Memorial 14 11 17 7 — 49

3-point goals: Northridge (3-8) — M. Schrock 2-5, H. Schrock 1-1; Memorial (5-13) — Wagner 2-4, Jones 2-6, Barnett 1-3.

Rebounds: Northridge (15) — H. Schrock 4, M. Schrock 4; Memorial (21) — Kyle 8.

Assists: Northridge (7) — M. Schrock 2; Memorial (9) — Barnett 6.

Steals: Northridge (3) — O'Dell, Zook, M. Schrock; Memorial (5) — Jones 2.

Turnovers: Northridge 11, Memorial 8.

Fouls: Northridge 10, Memorial 16. Fouled out — none.

Records: Memorial 20-5, Northridge 19-6.

Next: Memorial vs. East Chicago Central in second semifinal of Valparaiso Regional Saturday.

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