Benicia High’s girls varsity basketball team missed a chance to wrap up third place in the Solano County Athletic Conference after a tough 49-46 loss to host Vallejo last Thursday.

Vallejo and Benicia are now tied for the third and final Sac-Joaquin Section playoff spot awarded to the SCAC, each team at 4-5 with one game remaining in the regular season. Benicia (14-7 overall) needs to beat host American Canyon (11-14, 1-8 SCAC) on Tuesday and hope Vallejo loses at second-place Bethel in order to make the postseason.

The Lady Panthers had a five-point lead after one quarter but the Lady Redhawks (11-13) pulled to within 22-21 at the break and tied it heading to the fourth quarter. Vallejo junior Ariana Elder, who played for Benicia’s varsity last season, hit a 3-pointer to give the Lady Redhawks a 46-44 lead with 1:10 remaining. Kameron Hatcher hit two free throws to tie the game, but Elder answered with two free throws to put Vallejo ahead to stay.

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