The defining moment of Kelly Garrigan's high school basketball career came in one of the biggest games in Salisbury girls' history.

During Friday's PIAA Class AA first-round game against Imhotep Charter, Salisbury had its eyes set on retaking the lead after the Panthers tied it at 54 with 35 seconds to play. It was at that point Garrigan came up with the game's most crucial bucket.

After Meagan Eripret, who finished with a game-high 34 points to go along with 12 rebounds, missed a shot from the left side, Garrigan secured the rebound in the paint. She then connect on a mid-range jumper, and after getting fouled by the Panthers, proceeded to hit the free throw that put the Falcons ahead by three.

The Panthers had one last chance in the final moments, but Taylor Scruggs's deep bank shot with five seconds to play was ruled a two-pointer after her foot crossed the line, leaving Imhotep Charter one point behind. The District 11 runner up Falcons (18-8) were able to run out the clock and defeat the District 12 runner up Panthers (22-4), 57-56, at Lansdale Catholic High School.

"I knew there wasn't much time left," Garrigan said. "It's my senior year and this could've been my last game, so I just went for it.

"I was a little nervous at first [for the foul shot]. But then I just figured this could be my last moment playing basketball, and I just kind of forgot everything and took it like practice."

The win marked just the second time in school history that a Salisbury girls' basketball team advanced passed the first round of the PIAA playoffs.

"I'm so happy for our kids," head coach Joe Mladosich said. "I'm so excited that they won a game in states. You never know what can happen. We play again, and you never know."

"We're so excited," Eripret said. "I'm shaking because it was so close. I can't even explain in words how it feels."

The Falcons took advantage of some early foul trouble for the Panthers, as three of their low post players each picked up two fouls late in the first quarter.

Due in large part to 16 first-half points from Eripret, the Falcons erased an early 4-0 deficit and led by 12 going into halftime. Kelly Gonoude scored five points in the first half. Lindsay Bauer tallied four and Jenna Keet led the way with four assists.

"My teammates are great at passing and seeing when I'm open," Eripret said. "Half of the time I'm yelling that I'm open when I don't see the girl behind me. It's all about how they manage to get the pass in."

But while the Falcons had all of the momentum going into the break, the Panthers' pressure and athleticism was on full display to start the third quarter.

Imhotep scored the first eight points of the second half to get to within 30-26. The Panthers trailed by just a point heading into the final eight minutes. Six different Panthers scored in the third quarter, including eight from Bionca Dunham.

The Panthers, which held a 7-6 lead early in the game, didn't lead again until the 4:45 mark of the fourth quarter when Deja Reynolds drained a three-pointer. The Panthers also held a brief one-point lead with 1:53 to play, but Eripret responded and put the Falcons back in front on both occasions.

"We had a big lead, and then we lost the lead," Mladosich said. "They're very good. They're very athletic and very quick. But we responded well. They took the lead, and we kept coming back."

To go along with Eripret's 34, Gonoude finished with eight points for the Falcons. Garrigan tallied six, and Bauer recorded five points and five rebounds.

Reynolds led the Panthers with 18, while Dunham tallied 17 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks.

"All of our kids played well," Mladosich said. "Without our guards getting her [Eripret] the ball, she couldn't score. And Meagan is the first to say that."

Results from Tuesday's PIAA second-round game against Mount Carmel were not available at time of press.

"It's awesome, especially since we didn't win in districts, we definitely want to make a big presence in the state tournament."