LADY WOLVES: Emerging Thomas powers Wildcats into title game

Las Vegas High’s girls basketball team entered the season knowing it had solid scoring on the perimeter in Shomari Harris, Shaleea Butler and Matti Ventling.

Junior power forward Tonnisha Thomas is quickly emerging as a solid complement in the post.

Thomas had six points, 14 rebounds and two steals to help the Wildcats hold on for a 53-46 win over Marina (Calif.) on Tuesday in the semifinals of the Lady Wolves Holiday Tournament at Basic.

“It’s her first year playing on our varsity, and it took a little while for (Thomas) to get into organized basketball,” Las Vegas coach Jen Brown said. “But she just went out there and killed it. She went after every board and she went after loose balls. She did exactly what she was supposed to do.”

Thomas helped Las Vegas (5-4) advance to the championship, where it will meet San Clemente (Calif.) at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

The Wildcats reached the title game with their usual help from the backcourt. Harris had 14 points, three assists and three steals, and Ventling supplied 14 points and seven rebounds.

Butler contributed 10 points and three steals for Las Vegas, which withstood a 23-13 run by Marina in the fourth quarter.

Las Vegas broke the game open with a 10-0 run to start the third quarter, capped by Thomas’ turnaround jumper on the left wing to go ahead 37-18.

“We just told them at halftime that they needed to grow up, and make a statement in the third quarter,” Brown said of the 10-0 run. “Our focus for the tournament was really to get that third quarter stronger, and they did it.”

Lauren Dorame scored 12 of her 14 points in the fourth quarter to lead Marina, which shot only 1-for-9 at the free-throw line.

San Clemente (Calif.) 72, Boulder City 40 — Frankie Pinto had 21 points and Natalie Tye scored 16 to lead the Tritons past the Eagles in the other semifinal.

Mallory Bird led Boulder City with 13 points and six rebounds. Karlee Koopman had eight points and two blocks for the Eagles, and Whitney Barlow supplied five points and seven rebounds.

Basic 50, Faith Lutheran 37 — Kailai Brantner poured in 24 points as the Wolves downed the Crusaders.

Julia Benko and Samantha Leonard scored 10 points apiece for Faith Lutheran.

Boulder City 41, Mt. Eden (Calif.) 29 — Koopman had 17 points and Bird scored 12 to lead the Eagles to the win.

Brianna Johnson led Mt. Eden with 14 points.

Cheyenne 52, Tech 24 — Brea Thompson scored 23 points to lead the Desert Shields past the Roadrunners.

Lajuana Brown added 14 points for Cheyenne, which bolted to a 31-12 halftime lead.

Kristena Wilson scored 10 points for Tech.

Desert Oasis 52, Steveston-London (Canada) 26 — Auburn Smith scored 13 points to help the balanced Diamondbacks win in a rout.

Samantha Tso had 11 points and Jaqueline Garcia scored 10 for Desert Oasis, which raced to a 25-11 first-quarter lead.

Desert Oasis 37, Valley 32 — Garcia scored 11 points as the Diamondbacks edged the Vikings.

Tyricia Payne led Valley with 15 points.

Green Valley 60, Chaparral 46 — Angelica Mack poured in 25 points as the Gators cruised by the Cowboys.

Maggie Manwarren had 15 points and four assists for Green Valley, and Jill Harland supplied five points and 11 rebounds for the Gators.

Unique Wilson scored 10 points for Chaparral.

Las Vegas 64, Basic 57 — Harris had 26 points and Ventling scored 25 as the Wildcats raced past the Wolves.

Brantner scored 21 points for Basic, which also got double-figure scoring from Feti Sini (13), Victoria Harris (10) and Dana Deloney (10).

Marina (Calif.) 36, Bonanza 31 — Dorame scored 14 points to lead Marina past the Bengals.

Alyssa Powers scored 15 points for Bonanza.

Mt. Eden (Calif.) 68, Bonanza 33 — Michelle Townsend scored 22 points as Mt. Eden routed the Bengals.

Tangenika Hunt had 11 points and Jessica Gallegos scored 10 for Bonanza.

Rancho 38, Chaparral 26 — LaKissa Martin had 11 points and Darje Martin scored 10 to lead the Rams by the Cowboys.

Tichina Savoy scored 11 points for Chaparral.

Rancho 44, Cheyenne 41 — Kanosha Grey scored 15 points as the Rams rallied past the Desert Shields.

Grey converted a three-point play with 29 seconds left to give Rancho a 43-41 lead, and the Rams got a jump ball on Cheyenne’s ensuing possession.

Bria Buchanan and Noni Buckins each scored 10 points for Cheyenne, which was outscored 23-8 in the fourth quarter.

San Clemente (Calif.) 61, Faith Lutheran 37 — Pinto and Alexa Johnson each scored 15 points as the Tritons routed the Crusaders.

Kelsey McCourt led Faith Lutheran with 20 points.

Steveston-London (Canada) 45, Tech 29 — Anmol Mattu scored 19 points as Steveston-London beat the Roadrunners.

Wilson and Kristina Tatsanaram each scored 11 points for Tech.

Valley 53, Green Valley 49 — Payne had 17 points and Kennedy Wharton scored 15 as the Vikings edged the Gators.

Mack had 15 points and Manwarren scored 12 for Green Valley.