Stephanie Shaw, dubbed “The Haitian Sensation” by her coach and teammates for her routinely sizzling performance on the court, stole the show on Saturday with fabulous energy and precision.

“Stephanie had an amazing game; she was all over the court,” coach Terry Moran-Hodge said. “It was the most impressive playing I’ve seen and the most points scored by any Viking player since I’ve been coaching over the past six years. She hit 50 percent from the three-point line.”

Shaw, given the nickname because of her Haitian heritage, scored 27 points during the 32 minutes of play. Those points were crucial for a 39 – 25 win against Cross Point in the Viking’s second playoff game. Shaw had four 3-pointers, eight steals, and many of her trademark breakaway lay-ins.

“It’s still a team game; one person can’t carry it all,” said Moran-Hodge. “But that’s a really impressive performance.”

Moran-Hodge said the other Lady Vikes were vital on defense in the rough-and-tumble match.

“We went to a basketball game and a hockey game broke out,” he quipped, noting that Lanie Padbury took a hard elbow to the nose.

But it would take more than a bloody nose to shut down Padbury.

“Lanie had seven steals and six rebounds and was just playing really inspired defense,” Moran-Hodge said.

Alison OToole had six rebounds.

The game was a real nail-biter, as the Viking girls were only ahead by seven points at half and by the end of the 3rd quarter.

“We had to really bring it in the 4th quarter,” Moran-Hodge said. By that point the Vikings’ determined full-court press was starting to worry the weary Warriors.

“We just continued the pressure,” Moran-Hodge said. “Fatigue on the other side set in.”

And the Vikings emerged victorious.

“They had a strong desire to win that game. If we’d lost we would have been out,” Moran-Hodge said.

A strong contingency of supportive, road-tripping Orcas fans didn’t hurt, either.

The Vikings have to win their next game in order to claim a state playoff berth.

“They know the big one is going to be Friday. The winner goes to state and the loser goes home. They call that one ‘the game of tears’ because the losers are crying, and the winners are so happy, they’re crying too,” Moran-Hodge said.

The Lady Vikings will play either La Conner or Darrington at Chief Leschi on Friday, Feb. 26, at 8:15 p.m.