GATOR WINTER CLASSIC: Las Vegas girls track down Gators with second-half surge
Las Vegas girls basketball coach LaShondra Rayford had seen the scenario before.
Halfway through her team’s game against Green Valley in the opening round of the Gator Winter Classic, Rayford’s Wildcats tralied 31-24.
The final 16 minutes were a stark contrast.
Shomari Harris had 23 points, and Matti Ventling scored 18 as the Wildcats bounced back for a 52-49 win over the Gators.
“It’s been our problem for a couple games now,” Rayford said. “We always allow teams to bring it to us before we wake up. I was definitely not happy the way we came out to start the game.”
Las Vegas used a 17-9 edge in the third quarter to take the lead, forcing the Gators to hurry shots.
“We want to be a team that’s talked about. But in order to make that happen we need to take care of the little things,” Rayford said. “When we do those things, we’re a totally different team. Something as simple as boxing them out changes the entire scope of the game.”
Green Valley’s deadly corner 3-point shooting in the first half was contested more closely in the second half.
“We knew they were going to shoot (3-point shots),” Rayford said. “A couple of those shots they had open looks — no hands up, they weren’t contested. We made it a focal point to challenge them and not give away anything.”
The showdown between Harris and Green Valley point guard Maggie Manwarren (24 points) was an exciting one, as both made several clutch threes and paced their teams with high-tempo offenses.
Manwarren was automatic from the line, going 8-for-8 and keeping the Gators’ offense going with excellent court vision.
With less than a minute left in the game and Green Valley down by three, the Wildcats had the opportunity to put the game away on two different occasions at the free throw line but couldn’t convert.
Lock-down defense by Las Vegas prevented the Gators from getting an open-look three-point shot, and Las Vegas held on for the win.
“I think we have the best point guard (Harris) in the district,” Rayford said. “So with a minute left we want the ball in her hands. “We’re going to ride or die with her.”
Needles (Calif.) 31, Cheyenne 29 — Caitlyn Courtwright scored 12 points as the Mustangs outlasted the Desert Shields.
Lajuana Brown, Bria Buchanan and Larice Harper each scored six points to lead the way for Cheyenne.
White Pine 41, Del Sol 33 — Bailey Moore had 20 points to lead the Bobcats over the Dragons.
Debra Kingston added 12 points for White Pine, which converted 11 of their 22 free throws.
Melissa DeSantiago finished with 10 points to lead the way for Del Sol.
Westchester (Calif.) 59, Rancho 39 — Ahtenna Jones and Destinee Brown each scored 15 points as the Comets dominated the Rams.
The Comets utilized an up-tempo offense and a swarming defense to force several errant passes and off-balanced shots from the Rams.
Following a 12-12 tie after the first quarter, Westchester outscored Rancho 18-4 in the second quarter.
LaKissa Martin led the way for Rancho with 15 points.