Suffolk Christian Academy’s girls’ basketball team showed the measure of their improvement on Thursday. After losing to Sweethaven Christian Academy in early January by the score of 52-24, the Lady Knights created a competitive contest this time around, all leading to a final play with the scored tied, 39-39.

The play worked, but the shot did not go in. However, senior center/power forward Caitlin Hankins rebounded the ball with 1.8 seconds left. She put it up and in as time expired for a 41-39 win in the final home game of her high school career.

“It was electric,” Suffolk Christian head coach Tom Powell said of the winning moment.

He said Sweethaven’s coach was very gracious in defeat.

“He said, ‘Man, I can’t believe how you guys have improved since the last time we played you,’” Powell recalled.

It was only the third win for the Lady Knights in what has been a difficult season where they were rarely in a position to put up a game winner at the buzzer.

“I was happy that my girls got to experience that,” Powell said.

He was also particularly happy for Hankins, a leader on the team, who ended up with 15 points and 12 rebounds for the game.

“Just to be able to see that happen for her, to me, was special, as well,” he said.

The team’s other primary leader, senior guard/forward Jenny Rombs, also had a productive game, with 10 points, including a critical three-pointer that turned the momentum of the game.

Suffolk Christian concludes its regular season on Tuesday at Victory Christian School.