There are times when there is more than one hero in a last-second victory.

One of those times happened Monday in Larson Gymnasium.

Brad Linch beat the buzzer with a 10-footer, and the Wolves of Santa Fe Waldorf turned back the Wildcats of Desert Academy 52-51 in District 2A boys basketball.

Linch's baseline shot was the final frame in a 3.5-second sequence of the frantic finish that kept the Wolves (8-5), undefeated in district at 6-0.

Matthew Paulazzo intercept a pass just inside half court and fed Conrad Fox-Beck underneath the Wolves' basket. Fox-Beck, though, was sandwiched between two Wildcats. His blind outlet pass found Linch on the baseline. The ball went up, the basket went in, the buzzer went off.

In all three cases — the steal, the pass the shot — instinct took over.

"Matthew had the presence of mind to pass it up court and Conrad somehow found Brad behind him and made the pass," said Jake Yeager, Waldorf head coach.

The finish was stunning — to both benches.

"One of these times I'm going to call and say we won a close one," said Daniel Romero, Desert Academy head coach.

The Wildcats had possession with 11 seconds left.

"I knew he had to get the ball across half court," Romero said. "They hit us with a three-quarters court press. We inbounded the ball, but turned it over."

The Wildcats led 11-9, 30-26 and 41-40, respectively, at the end of the first three quarters.

"We had a hard time composing a defense that would challenge them and contain them," Yeager said. "They had us on our heels for a while. We tried three different defenses. It just came down to hard work on defense and making those conversions happen on offense."

Linch did just that, scoring 26 points. Paulazzo had 14 points to go with 20 rebounds.

Upsal scored 22 points for the Wildcats (7-16, 1-6). Alex Kokesh followed with 17.

"We're the last place team right now," Romero said. "It shows how equal our district is. Any one of these teams can be beaten on any given night. We just have to keep a positive attitude going."

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Desert Academy 50, Santa Fe Waldorf 32

Most points win.

Santa Fe Waldorf knew that going in.

And coming out.

"Thirty-two points is not going to win many games," said Daniel Wendland, Santa Fe Waldorf head coach.

And zero games against Desert Academy.

The Lady Wildcats defeated the Lady Wolves in Larson Gymnasium in District 2A girls basketball. It was the fifth meeting — and fifth victory — for Desert Academy.

"We just couldn't convert offensively," Wendland said. "We missed 24 layups."

It was part of a 9-for-41 shooting performance by Waldorf from the field and continued a trend that has stretched to weeks, not just games.

"We're just not shooting well as a team," Wendland said.

The misses didn't make the game easier for Desert Academy. The Lady Wildcats pulled away with a 17-7 scoring run. But that didn't come until the fourth quarter. Until those final eight minutes, the advantage was eight points or less at the end of the first three quarters — 11-6, 22-14, 33-25.

"In the fourth quarter, we spread them out and they had come out and guard us," said Natalie Passalacqua, Desert Academy head coach. "That opened the lane for Corine (Garcia) to drive and Rebekah (Reyes) to spot up."

Garcia finished with 24 points to lead the Lady Wildcats (17-4, 5-1 2A). Reyes followed with 13.

Emma Aders scored 16 points for Waldorf (6-15, 2-4).

The win assured the Lady Wildcats of the top seed for the 2A tournament.