SUNSET GIRLS BASKETBALL: Kayla Harris helps Spring Valley get revenge on Faith Lutheran

The word that summed up the attitude of Spring Valley’s girls basketball team was inscribed on Kayla Harris’ wrist. It summed up how the Grizzlies felt going into their playoff game against the team that beat them in the state title game last year.

Revenge.

Spring Valley’s junior backed up her faux tattoo, scoring a game-high 23 points while collecting 13 rebounds, as the Grizzlies picked up a 75-62 road win in the Class 4A Sunset Region quarterfinals Wednesday.

“It comes down to who plays harder and who plays the toughest and who wants it more, and tonight we wanted it more,” Harris said. “I wrote revenge on my wrist today because that’s what we came in focused on because of last year.”

With revenge on their mind, the Grizzlies (17-11) came storming out of the gates. Harris scored just four seconds in, and Spring Valley started the game on a 12-2 run, a lead from which Faith Lutheran could never quite recover.

The Crusaders (17-9), who trailed by as many as 14 points, pulled within seven points in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t catch the Grizzlies.

The teams are no strangers in the postseason, with Wednesday being their fifth meeting in three seasons. Spring Valley won the 2015 Division I-A (now Class 3A) Southern Region and state title games over the Crusaders, then bested them in last year’s region title game before falling in the rematch at state.

Harris may have helped Spring Valley take Wednesday’s edition of the rivalry, but junior Essence Booker was right on her tail. Booker finished with 18 points, six rebounds and four assists.

“Statistically you see those two, but it’s the little things we do,” Spring Valley coach Billy Hemberger said.

Hemberger pointed out sophomore Ella Zanders, who scored just six points, but helped hold Faith Lutheran sharpshooter Madison Bocobo to 11 points. A 3-pointer by junior Alyssa Scott accounted for all her points, but helped set the tone in the fourth quarter.

“Yes, they carried us offensively and statistically with production,” Hemberger said. “It wasn’t just a two-man show.”

It can’t be a just a two-man show for the Grizzlies on Friday. They play the top seed from the Southwest League, Desert Oasis (20-5), which swept them in the regular season. The game is at Shadow Ridge at 7 p.m.

Senior Bryanna Neagle finished with 21 points to lead the Crusaders. Bocobo and Kayla Proctor each scored 11 for Faith Lutheran, and Casey Proctor had 10 points.

Centennial 69, Sierra Vista 8 — At Centennial, Eboni Walker had 20 points and 12 rebounds as the Bulldogs blitzed the Mountain Lions in a quarterfinal game.

Samantha Thomas and Jayden Eggleston each added 12 points for Centennial, which stormed to a 50-5 halftime lead and held Sierra Vista scoreless in the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs (27-2) will play Gorman (21-6) in a semifinal at 5 p.m. Friday at Shadow Ridge.

Kayla Smith scored six points for Sierra Vista (12-11).

Desert Oasis 70, Arbor View 50 — At Desert Oasis, Dajaah Lightfoot scored a game-high 18 points to guide the Diamondbacks to victory over the Aggies.

Ahmaya Smith had 16 points for Desert Oasis, which closed the game on a 24-10 run.

Alaysia Reed scored 17 points, Kalli Hosier had 15 points, and Autumn Westmoreland supplied 11 points for Arbor View (11-15).

Bishop Gorman 55, Legacy 30 — At Gorman, Caira Young scored 16 points to help the Gaels defeat the Longhorns.

Quinece Hatcher had 11 points, and Skylar Jackson added 10 points for Gorman, which outscored Legacy 36-7 in the second half.

Maiah Yearwood led the Longhorns (21-7) with 12 points.