Amanda Garcia played for survival Saturday afternoon and the Pueblo South High School senior emerged with 25 points and a broken finger.

Garcia’s scoring punch fueled the Colts in a 60-48 slugfest over Falcon in a Sweet 16 contest at the Colorado State Fair Events Center that was anything but “sweet.” The win propels the 19-6 Colts into the Great 8 round of the Tracy Hill Region Saturday at Colorado School of Mines in Golden.

South will play 24-1 Conifer, a 54-37 winner over Montrose on Saturday.

“We held our own,” Garcia said about battling the scrappy Falcons, who roared back from a 17-point deficit early in the fourth quarter to close within four at 45-41 with 3:12 remaining.

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Mesa Ridge’s Leanndra Gilbert shoots over the defense of Pueblo West’s Nicole Bogenschuetz, left, and DeeAnna Arrieta during first half of their 4A State Girls Basketball game at Mesa Ridge High School Saturday. Photo by CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE