CHERRY TWP — Redbank Valley coach Robin Martin had been looking for a game like this all season long.

A lead late in the game. On the road. And holding on for the win.

All three came into play as the Bulldogs opened the fourth quarter with a 12-0 spurt to erase a six-point deficit and defeated host Moniteau, 57-54, in District 9 Class AA girls basketball quarterfinal action Tuesday.

“I don’t think we got settled down into the game until that fourth quarter,” Martin said. “It’s the first time for this young team in this atmosphere. It took us some time to settle down.

“We worked the pick-and-roll, made some baskets, made some stops on defense,” she added.

And freshman Brooke Hinderliter was anything but, dropping in 32 points, including two free throws with 9.3 seconds left to give the Bulldogs (14-9) a three-point lead. Ashley Brehm’s game tying 3-point attempt hit the front of the rim before time expired.

“She really had her game on,” Martin noted of Hinderliter. “I explained that the ball has to be in her hands in the end.”

Moniteau trailed 55-49 inside of one minute remaining and used a 3-pointer by Emily Rider and a basket by Ashley Brehm with 15.2 seconds remaining to make it a 55-54 game before Hinderliter’s clutch free throws.

“There is a lot of pressure on you,” Hinderliter said, “but I know I have to make them.”

“We lost two girls who fouled out (Alycia Brehm with 5:41 and Fontaine Glenn with 2:00 to play), which was huge,” Moniteau coach Matt Stebbins said. “We had a couple of calls that didn’t go our way and they had a couple of balls that bounced their way.

“It’s heartbreaking, it really was. It’s sad to see it end this way,” Stebbins added.

Moniteau (13-10) used a 9-3 run at the end of the first half to take a 29-23 lead at the break, then received two 3-pointers by Alycia Brehm and one by Rider early in the third quarter to open up a 38-28 advantage with 4:44 left.

Redbank answered with an Emma Kennemuth basket, a 3-pointer by Hinderliter and a free throw by Kennemuth to cut the deficit to 38-34 with 2:21 left in the frame.

Moniteau entered the fourth quarter with a 43-37 lead, but the Bulldogs came out clicking on all cylinders.

Consecutive layups by Kennemuth, a basket by Erica Bowersox, a 3-point play by Hinderliter, then another layup and a free throw by Bowersox — all in a 2:39 span — gave the Bulldogs a 49-43 lead with 5:03 to play.

Moniteau used two free throws by Maura Kimmel and a 3-pointer by Ashley Brehm that helped make it a 50-48 contest with 4:03 to play, but Hinderliter scored the Bulldogs’ final seven points down the stretch — including a 5 of 6 showing from the free-throw line to keep Moniteau at bay.

Still, the loss couldn’t put a damper on what the Warriors accomplished this season.

“At the end of the game, we had three freshmen on the floor,” Stebbins said, referring to Kimmel, Alyssa Dailey and Kelsey Ripley. “They got some valuable experience on the floor. And we only lose one senior (Ashley Brehm) but it’s a big hole to fill. She took authority out there.

“No one thought we’d win 13 games and no one thought we’d make the playoffs. The community support was great. I’m happy I’m here. These kids are the toughest kids I’ve ever coached.”

Notes: Rider led the Warriors with 18 points while Alycia Brehm added 11 and Ashley Brehm 10. The Bulldogs received 13 points from Kennemuth. ... Half of Moniteau’s points came from 3-pointers as the team drained nine treys. ... Moniteau had defeated Redbank 50-47 on Dec. 21, but lost 53-33 on Feb. 6.

REDBANK VALLEY 57

Alex Bell 1 0-0 3, Emma Kennemuth 5 3-6 13, Brooke Hinderliter 11 9-13 32, Madison McClaine 0 2-2 2, Erica Bowersox 3 1-3 7, Kaelyn Gruver 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 15-24 57.

MONITEAU 54

Fontaine Glenn 2 1-5 5, Ashley Brehm 4 0-0 10, Maura Kimmel 3 2-2 8, Alycia Brehm 3 2-2 11, Emily Rider 6 2-2 18, Maria Loos 1 0-0 2, Alyssa Dailey 0 0-0 0, Kelsey Ripley 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19 7-11 54.

Redbank Valley 11 12 14 20—57

Moniteau14 15 14 11—54

3-point goals: Redbank Valley 2 (Bell, Hinderliter); Moniteau 9 (Rider 4, Al. Brehm 3, As. Brehm 2)