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Palatine's Nia Pappas (20) works to get inside against Maine West's Alexia Prosperi (24) Monday night in Des Plaines. Pappas later hit the game-winning shot for the Pirates.
Bill Zars | Staff Photographer
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For the last three years, all-area guard Nia Pappas has had her share of big baskets for the Palatine girls basketball team. Maine West coach Derril Kipp has seen Pappas make several shots, too, because he has been her Illinois Hustle AAU coach. But Kipp and the Warriors saw a first from Pappas in high school basketball on Monday night. The Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis-bound guard hit the first game-winning shot of her career when she connected from 17 feet out with 3.2 seconds left to give the Pirates a 49-48 win in Des Plaines. It gave Pappas a game-high 26 points, 19 in the second half, and gave Palatine a dramatic season-opening win over the Warriors, who were led by junior Brittany Collin's 21 points.Galleries by Category