HANSON - As time was running out Thursday night, Foxboro High School sophomore guard Kristen Hoffman stopped just behind the three-point shot line and fired away as both benches held their collective breath.

"I thought it was too good of a look," said Whitman-Hanson head coach Jim Daley. "I figured we were going into overtime."

Hoffman fired a shot that looked to be right on target, but it rolled just off the rim, leaving Whitman-Hanson with a 41-38 win over Foxboro in the MIAA Division 2-South girls' basketball tournament's first-round game. The Panthers (18-4) earned a trip to play at Wellesley 4 p.m. Saturday in the quarterfinals, while Foxboro finished the season with a 12-9 record.

"We really had a good look at the three," said Foxboro coach Sarah Behn. "I thought it was going to go in, but like I tell the girls, you're not going to win too many games scoring in the 30s."

While the Warriors would have liked to have had more points, there was no questioning their effort on the other end of the court. "Our defense kept us in the game," said Behn. "Everyone played well defensely. We played aggressive man-to-man defense."

What the Warriors did was hold Panther junior forward Emily Trapp to 12 points, something other Whitman-Hanson foes had trouble doing during the season. On most nights, Trapp is good for 20 points, but Behn had a plan to keep her from hurting the Warriors.

"They did a great job on her," said Daley. "I knew Sarah was going to have something figured out to stop. They used a box-and-one on her."

With a little over a minute left in the game, Hoffman found a hole in the Panthers' defense on the left baseline, covering to give the Warriors a 38-37 lead and it looked like there would be an upset in the making.

Foxboro got the ball back with 1:11 left after a turnover by the Panthers, but Whitman-Hanson's Ali Hardiman quickly stole the ball back. The Warriors were forced to fouled Hardiman, who went to the line, making both free throws for a 39-38 lead.

Trailing by one, the Warriors got a big play from freshman Leigha Tacey when she saved the ball from going out of bounds. Hoffman then drove to the hoop again, but her shot rolled off the rim with 6.7 seconds left.

Foxboro had to foul quickly again. This time, Trapp was sent to the line. After being held to just six points in the first half, the junior did most of her damage from the free throw line in the final quarter, going 3-for-5. She made her first shot for a two-point lead at 40-38. Her second shot rolled off the rim, before dropping in for the three-point margin, forcing the Warriors to need a three-pointer.

Behn call time out right away, setting the stage for a final shot attempt to tie the score. Hoffman used her speed to get into position for the tying shot as the Panthers had trouble covering her, but it just wouldn't fall as time ran out.

"It was a tough way for the game to end," said Foxboro senior captain Tara Greeley. "We need more shots to fall. This year, though, was so good. It was my favorite year."

Foxboro will be looking to replace Greeley and Jessie Heinricher, the other co-captain, next year, but the Warriors will have a solid nucleus back. Defensively, the Warriors kept the Panthers from getting into the transition game, while bottling thing up inside with juniors Rehema Strouble and Sam Briggs and Tacey.

Offensively, Strouble was the top scorer for the Warriors with 10 points, while Briggs added seven and Tacey had five. Hoffman finished with six points, did a good job leading the attack from her guard spot on offense and defense. When the Warriors needed basket, the ball was put into Hoffman's hands.

"(Strouble) has great individual moves," said Daley. "With (Briggs) and (Strouble) they gave us problems inside."

Foxboro was hurt on both ends of the court when Strouble fouled out with 6:25 left in the game.

"When Rehema fouled out, that change the momentum of the game," said Behn.

While she would have like to have season extended to Saturday, Behn was able to find a lot of positives in the Warriors' play in the tournament and during the regular season.

"We had a good season," she said. "Our senior captains did a great job with their leadership. We were playing a lot of young kids tonight. Leigha Tacey had a good game for a freshmen and this experience will help the younger kids."

Hoffman and point guard Rachel Jamieson both have two years left remaining in the Warrior back court, while Foxboro is expecting to have Briggs, Strouble, Tacey and freshman Kayleen Whall all back in the frontcourt.

"That's a young team and they are going to be really good," said Daley. "I'm thrilled to get out of here with a win."