"I've hated the color green since last year," said a beaming Clifford, who led Chugiak to a 41-36 victory at Sullivan Arena. "For the seniors, it's like you feel complete."
The Mustangs' five returning players were especially jubilant. Last year, they lost the championship game to Colony by four points in overtime.
This time, the Mustangs managed to pull ahead before the final buzzer, but the game was decided in the last seconds.
It was Allie Grazulis' long arm and jump shot that kept the Knights hanging on in the second half.
The 5-foot-11 senior, who registered a team-high 10 points for Colony, hit four jumpers and snatched one rebound in the last quarter.
With 6:55 left, Colony's Kara Larson made a basket to make it 29-29.
Chugiak's Liz Meddaugh put up four more points, then used her fourth foul on Grazulis, who sank both foul shots.
Clifford, who had begun asserting herself in the second quarter, drove yet again, scored, and drew a foul.
Down 35-33 with 3:25 left in the game, Colony's Tara Garrod missed two critical free throws.
Then when it looked like the Mustangs owned it, Colony's Maria Bowker snuck in a three-pointer -- the Knights' only trey of the game -- and Colony trailed 39-36 with 2.4 seconds left.
It was just enough time for a foul against Alexis Sayer, who sank both from the line to cap the game.
Clifford made her presence felt when she began driving to the hoop soon after the first quarter ended with the Knights leading 9-7.
"She did what we were all supposed to do -- go hard," said Chugiak coach Tracy Adams. "She's an elite player.''
With 2 minutes, 27 seconds left in the second quarter, Clifford drove the length of the court and hit a layup to tie the game 13-13.
It was neck-and-neck again at the end of the third quarter, as Meddaugh blocked a shot from Alex Coon to keep the score tied 25-25 going into the final eight minutes.
Meddaugh -- who is still recovering from ACL tears in both knees -- saw a lot of the floor in the final.
Face down, that is.
"She's not a typical post player," Adams said of the slender, 5-foot-10 player. "She's more of a finesse player. She gets hammered all the time.''
Meddaugh can hold her own in the paint, though, an attribute that earned her seven points and seven rebounds.
After hitting the floor hard several times, Meddaugh popped right back up.
"Seeing her get hit and get back up motivates the rest of the team," said Clifford of her fellow senior. "She gives everything."
And after the Mustangs emptied their tank, the victors left the gym with no celebration plans.
"The joy is purely enough," said Clifford.
Daily News Reporter Heather March can be reached at hmarch@adn.com.
Colony 9 8 8 11 -- 36
Chugiak 7 12 6 16 -- 41
Colony -- Hamann 4, Klapperich 4, Bowker 3, Grazulis 10, Coon 7, Larson 8.
Chugiak -- Sweeney 1, Watzke 5, Rochon 2, Meddaugh 7, Sayer 10, Clifford 16.
WASILLA 60, KETCHIKAN 54
Wasilla's Jenna Johnson kept raining points on opponents, canning 28 to lift the Warriors to third place and give her 75 points in the tournament.
Johnson also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, dished three assists and rejected three shots. Kelsey Cottle complemented Johnson with 10 points and eight boards. Laci Effenberger bagged 17 points for Ketchikan, Alexis Edwardson added 15 and Crystal Blair hauled down nine boards.
DIMOND 51, WEST 29
Keiahnna Engel's game highs of 16 points and 10 rebounds -- she also snagged four steals and dealt three assists -- propelled the Lynx to a fourth-place finish.
Katie Anderson collected nine rebounds for Dimond and Lauren Hanley chipped in eight points. Tessla Rennie led West with nine points and five rebounds.
4A Girls All-Tournament Team
Jenna Johnson, Wasilla; Allie Grazulis, Colony; Laci Effenberger, Ketchikan; Lorrie Clifford, Chugiak; Tessla Rennie, West; Alex Coon, Colony; Keiahnna Engel, Dimond; Emily Watzke, Chugiak; Kelsey Cottle, Wasilla; Crystal Blair, Ketchikan.
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