After watching their six-point lead get cut to one by visiting Bonneville in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, the Pocatello High School girls’ basketball team needed someone to step up.

    The Indians got two players to step up as Allie and Carly Parker took control of the game in the final seven minutes, leading Pocatello to a 51-44 win at the Palace Tuesday night.

    Allie, a senior, and Carly, a sophomore, accounted for all but two of the team’s fourth-quarter points and made a couple of big defensive plays to help earn the win.

    “Allie definitely came awake in the fourth quarter after being a little quiet in the first half,” Pocatello head coach Laraine Cook said. “It was nice to see her wake up and play well especially in the fourth quarter.”

    A jumpshot from Carly Parker started a 7-2 run that built the Indians lead to 47-41 with 3:16 remaining in the game.

    Allie came with a big block a few seconds later when she stopped a free throw line jumper from the Bees’ Kylee Giles.

    The play took all chances of a comeback away from Bonneville.

    Pocatello closed out the game 4-of-6 from the free throw line.

    “That was a hard win for us,” Cook said. “We played a close game with them at Bonneville. It was good to come out and get a win tonight.”

    While the end result was good for the Indians, it took the early part of the opening quarter for the team to get into the game.

    Bonneville scored the game’s first six points by catching the Pocatello defenders out of position and getting a couple of easy baskets.

    But Paige Durrant hit back-to-back three pointers to get the Indians right back into the game. The junior finished the night with a game-high 12 points, including three baskets from behind the arc.

    Pocatello led 13-12 after one quarter.

    The Indians led by four at halftime after a 5-0 run to start the second quarter put Pocatello up by six. Then the Indians’ defense took over.

    Cook implemented a full-court press defense and immediately turned into points.

    Pocatello recorded four steals, scoring two baskets and earning two trips to the free throw line in the final 3:32 of the second quarter.

    In the second half, the Indians’ press got a whole lot tougher.

    While the Bees were forced into some turnovers early in the quarter, things did not get any easier once the ball was inbounded.

    Carly and Abby Jones harassed Bonneville ball handlers forcing length-of-the-court passes that were more often than not were intercepted by an Indian defender.

    “I thought our press was a lot better in the second half than it was in the first,” Cook said. “We kind of got out of sorts early in the game and gave up some easy layups, which I was not real happy with. But I thought the girls adjusted well and did a good job in the second half.”

    Three other Indians also scored in double figures. Both Parkers and Brooke Pierce each scored 10 points.

    The win puts Pocatello (5-5, 4-1 4A Fifth/Sixth District) back at .500 for the season, but it also puts the team at the top of the district standings, which is equally as important because after Thursday’s home game with Rigby the team does not play another game until Jan. 3.

    “These are big games because during Christmas break you tend to lose focus with everything going on,” Cook said. “It is one of the biggest challenges to keep kids focused and able to think about the game and going out and playing well. If you can do that and get some wins it is a good thing.”

    Pocatello hosts Rigby at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.