But for the representatives from Canyon, Hart, Saugus, Valencia, Vasquez and West Ranch, one final chance materialized, and with it, came an opportunity to give back.

Wildcats senior guard Erin Ruiz won the 3-point shooting contest and claimed Most Valuable Player honors with a 14-point performance, while leading the West Ranch-Saugus-Hart team to a 48-45 win over Canyon-Valencia-Vasquez on Saturday in the SCV Hoops Finale senior girls basketball game hosted by LETMESAIL and The Signal at Golden Valley High School.

Based in Santa Clarita, LETMESAIL is a charity that provides social, recreational and educational activities for teenagers and adults with disabilities.

"I heard it was for a good cause and I wanted to do more," Ruiz said. "It was just a fun game."

Ruiz's 14 points led all scores, while WHS teammate Brittany Costanzo scored 10 points to overcome an early 19-9 deficit.

The game was made up of two 20-minute halves and a running clock.

CVV's Kayla Michel led her team with 12 points, helping build the early lead with put-backs in the low post and a soft mid-range jumper.

Due to multiple cancelations, CVV was outnumbered 9-6, forcing the team to up its intensity early, said Vasquez's Jessica Bennett, who scored four points early in the first half.

Bennett was joined on the squad by teammate McKenna Garrick.

"This was a great experience," Bennett said. "Coming from a small school, we don't go to big things, big events. For us, it was really fun."

WSH began to make a run midway through the first half thanks a few timely defensive stops and 3-pointers from West Ranch's Kaylyn Tarver, Saugus' Kaylynn Martin and a pair of baskets by Wildcat Tori Wilson.

Going into halftime, the score was tied 23-23.

"I think our defense and communication were better, which allowed us to read when their defense was set up," Costanzo said. "I've played against these girls for years. I kind of know how they play."

At the break, Ruiz, Martin, Tarver, Garrick, Costanzo, Valencia's Jenny Lentz and Brittany Jackson and Canyon's Brooke LeMar competed in the 3-point shootout.

Ruiz and Martin advanced to the finals after tying with 11 makes in the 1 minute allotted.

Lentz finished round 1 with 10 makes, followed by Costanzo with nine, Jackson with seven, Tarver with six, LeMar with five and Garrick with two.

In the finals, Martin made 12-of-22 shots, setting the bar high for Ruiz.

After missing her first four shots, Ruiz made 15-of-18 for the win.

"After I missed the first couple shots, I thought, ‘Just make a few,'" Ruiz said. "Then I just stopped thinking about it and shot."

In the second half, Costanzo helped WSH take an early 28-23 lead, and never trailed again.

However, CVV continued its push, spurred by Michel's continued physical presence down low and Brittany Jackson's nine second-half points.

But the competitiveness didn't stop either team from having fun.

"We laughed the entire game," Jackson said. "It as fun for a good cause, and we got to play basketball."

Neither team could pull away down the stretch and the score was 48-45 with 7.8 second left.

LeMar missed a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer as WSH hung on for the win.

Without any seniors on the team, Golden Valley didn't field any players and Santa Clarita Christian's senior duo of Kaitlyn Preheim and Carolann Scott had prior commitments.

WSH was coached by Saugus head coach Kent Eaton, while VCC was coached by Vasquez's Tim Taufaasau.

Lentz, LeMar and Martin finished with nine points apiece, and West Ranch's Brittni Walker and Saugus' Heather Switaj each added four points.

"Overall, I think we all enjoyed playing together one last time," Martin said. "That's what made it more fun, raising money for a charity."