Kaye Paschke had no option. She had to be creative.

The sophomore guard drove hard to the basket and converted a runner as the final buzzer sounded, giving the No. 6-ranked Cardinals (26-4) the victory in the second Class 3A game.

“The play we were trying to run broke down,” Paschke said. “I knew time was running out. When I heard three seconds yelled from our bench I knew I had to do something quickly.”

She used her speed to get into the lane, and make her only basket of the night. She missed her previous attempt.

“I was like ‘Wow, did I just make that?’ ” Paschke said. “When all of our players started screaming and running toward me, I knew that I did.”

“Kaye wasn’t one of our main options,” Alexandria coach Wendy Kohler said. “She did what we tell all our players to do, give yourself a chance and attack the basket.”

Seniors Kendall Kohler (17 points) and Kayla Feldhake (16) combined for 33 points for the Cardinals. Meara Beighley had 14 points and 12 rebounds for No. 8-ranked Grand Rapids (23-6).