VEGAS INVITE: Marruffo helps Saints emerge with OT win

It was far from a perfect start for Mountain View’s girls basketball team when River Valley (Ariz.) scored the first four points of overtime Wednesday.

Then Briana Marruffo put on her Superman cape.

Marruffo made a steal and go-ahead layup in transition in the final minute of overtime as the host Saints rallied for a 38-37 win over the Dust Devils in the Vegas Invitational.

“Briana’s seen a lot of late-game situations like that,” Mountain View coach Mike Valenzuela said. “She just wasn’t going to sit back and wait for other players to make things happen. She’s been down this road before, and I was glad to see her take the lead in the crucial moments.”

Marruffo burst into the opposing backcourt for a steal and layup in transition while being fouled to give the Saints (5-6) a 38-37 lead with 37 seconds left.

This came after the senior guard had a nearly identical steal and layup while being fouled for a three-point play to give Mountain View a 33-32 edge with 1:15 remaining in regulation.

“(Marruffo) is an upperclassman, and she had a sense of urgency,” Valenzuela said. “She stepped up, anticipated some passes and didn’t allow us to lose. We made plays and set our pace with an aggressive defense when we needed to finish.”

Marruffo finished with 21 points, four steals and two assists.

Kiley Murphy and Alley Cintron scored six points apiece for Mountain View.

Demi Limon scored 14 points for River Valley, including a free throw with 51.8 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 33. Shanon Smith added 12 points for the Dust Devils.

Needles 48, Moapa Valley 46 — Abby Chandler had 20 points, seven rebounds and two steals to help the Mustangs edge the Pirates.

Holly Laswell made two free throws with four seconds remaining to give the Mustangs a 48-44 lead before they held on for the win.

Laswell had 14 points and eight rebounds for Needles, which won despite missing its first 20 free throws.

Kaylee Calderon added four points, 10 rebounds and two assists for the Mustangs.

Ashley Noto had 14 points and Chanel LaCroix scored 13 for Moapa Valley.

Del Sol 54, Calvary Chapel 38 — Melissa DeSantiago had 10 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and two steals to lead the Dragons past the Lions.

Rela Coleman had nine points, four rebounds and two assists for Del Sol, and teammates Desiree Orozco and Nataly Gaona each scored nine points.

Lianne Reyes led Calvary Chapel with 10 points. Alexis Harris supplied eight points, 10 rebounds and two steals for the Lions, and teammate Jamie Mejia had six points, nine rebounds and two steals.

Clark 54, Fairmont Prep (Calif.) 46 — Freshman wing Bobbi Floyd poured in 27 points as the Chargers rallied past the Huskies.

Lisa Ko made a pair of free throws early in the fourth quarter to give Clark a 42-41 lead as part of a 14-5 run the Chargers used to end the game.

Freshman guard Blaysen Varnadoe led Fairmont Prep with 33 points.

Eldorado 59, Agassi Prep 41 — Denisheun Jackson scored 26 points to lead the Sundevils by the Stars.

Allyah Swain added 18 points for Eldorado, which outscored Agassi Prep 38-21 in the middle quarters.

Jada Smith paced Agassi Prep with 10 points.

Layton Christian (Utah) 48, Lake Mead 44 — Alissa Atisme scored 15 points to lead Layton Christian past Lake Mead.

Taylor Badua-Kono had 17 points and Colleen Zumaran scored 12 for Lake Mead, which was outscored 22-4 in the third quarter.