Despite the adjustment, Emery still extended its lead to 38-26 at the end of the third.

Dixie wasn't going away so easily. Nellie Hardy and Cherie Lyle, who led Dixie with 15 points, opened the fourth quarter with consecutive 3-pointers to whittle Emery's lead to 38-32. The Flyers eventually cut it to 44-39 on another 3-pointer by Hardy, but that was as close as they came.

"I told them, we've been here before, so quit being so wide-eyed," said Gordon. "You've got to give Dixie credit. They played their guts out."

Dixie had a pair of opportunities to trim it to a one-possession game, but it missed three straight free throws in the final minutes, contributing to a miserable 1-of-9 performance at the line. Emery, meanwhile, shot 68 percent from the line.

"I think Camille and some of the seniors they didn't want to settle for second again," said Gordon. "It feels good to finish second, but it's not the feeling you're after."

3A All-Tournament Team

MVP — Camille Fehlberg, Emery

Megan Garvin, Carbon

Lakell Havens, Dixie

Cherie Lyle, Dixie

Jodi Robertson, Emery

Shanae Vaifanua, Hurricane

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com