Fifty minutes later they were convinced they had just seen a game few of the lucky ones who got into the gym will soon forget.

An underdog Irish team that never doubted it could win, came storming back in the last four minutes to erase a four-point deficit and stun undefeated Trenton High, 41-38, thanks to four foul shots by Danielle Wexler in the game's final 19 seconds.

With the win, the 8-2 Irish ran their Colonial Valley Conference win streak to 43 games over four seasons, while sending a Trenton team that came into the game No. 2 in The Trentonian State Top 20 reeling to its first loss.

ND had been No. 5 in the State Top 20 and No. 2 in the Area Top 20 behind Trenton. It was also the third Irish win over Trenton in the 43-game streak and fourth straight time Ann DeMille's girls have beaten THS in three years.

"When we lost those two games at Christmas (in Future Stars Tournament at West Chester, Pa.) I told the girls not to worry because those games taught us a lesson and would help us later," said DeMille. "Tonight they did."

In typical ND fashion, the Irish didn't collapse when they easily could have. Instead, they forgot about four straight missed foul shots by Michelle Campbell, got their second wind as THS went to a slowdown offense, and ran off eight straight points to take a 39-35 before Mykeema Ford hit a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left.

Ford would foul out six seconds later, though, sending Wexler to the line to clinch the win with her final two foul shots. But ND couldn't celebrate until it saw a halfcourt buzzer shot by Zahiya Anderson miss by inches as it rippled the underside of the net at the horn.

"We kept our composure all game," DeMille pointed out. "The girls felt even before the game began there was no way they could lose. You can't substitute for that attitude."

But there were certainly times in this back-and-forth thriller when ND's dreams appeared dashed. Like in the first half when they shot 7-for-22, threw the ball away 11 times, and had trouble inside against Trenton's trio of 6-foot-1 forwards.

Baskets by Charnette Phelps and Ford off THS steals, and a Ford free throw closed the first period with the Tornadoes ahead 13-10. They didn't trail again until the final minute, going up 23-16 before halftime, and twice by five midway in the third.

An 8-3 run that saw Campbell score twice on power moves in the lane forced a 31-31 tie entering the last period. Dowling and Charlene Phelps broke the tie with layups to start the last period, but in between Dowling got her fourth foul.

After the Tornadoes went to a delay offense because Reggie Murray said "we needed a rest," Dowling got her fifth foul for holding Campbell on a baseline drive. Campbell made the foul, and when Bridget Catanese drove baseline ND was within 35-34.

Trenton, which was whistled for twice as many fouls (19-9), saw Campbell tie the game with another free throw at 1:44, and Catanese put ND ahead 37-35 on a breakaway at 1:07 off Janey Quinn's rebound and halfcourtassist pass.

Trenton missed two potential tying shots, then sent Wexler to the line for the first of her four foul shots at 0:19.

Ford's second 3-pointer of the night, and the only one of 11 shots THS hit in the game's last six minutes, kept the outcome in doubt until Wexler made her final two fouls and Anderson's last second heave fell just short.

"It didn't feel right all night," Murray insisted after. "It felt like we were waiting around to make a mistake. Certain players were a 'no show' tonight. "

Murray felt Trenton's inability to ever get on a streak (its best run was six straight in the first half) kept it from getting into a groove that could have put the struggling Irish away early on.

"We were getting good shots, they just didn't fall," said DeMille, who encountered the same problem in the first half of last year's first game with THS, but saw her girls also recover in the first half to win by 11.

This time ND made eight of its 14 second half shots, didn't have a turnover after halftime, but more important stayed poised.

"Wexler showed tremendous leadership," said her coach. "We were able to make changes on the fly through her.

"Erin Drulis made me look like a genius the way she played," smiled DeMille, who started the freshman in only her second varsity game because she felt ND needed size to battle the taller Tornadoes and might not be able to get it with Quinn nursing a sprained ankle.

"I felt we controlled the whole game," said Wexler. "We were able to communicate on defense while on the floor, and knew from the start we would win it."

"Even when we trailed I told them if we chipped away at their lead we could win," said DeMille. "It hurt Trenton tonight not having played in tight games like we had this year."