10TH-SEED MAR VISTA SHOCKS FOR SCHOOL’S 1ST GIRLS TITLE
The improbable dream of a 10 seed became a reality Thursday as the Mar Vista girls raced to an early lead and bested top-seeded Valhalla 44-32 to claim the San Diego Section Division V title at Otay Ranch High.
The championship is the first girls basketball title in Mar Vista’s 72-year history.
“We started at the bottom and worked our way up,” said Mar Vista star guard Kimberly Curran. “We knew it was possible if we put in the work.”
The Mariners (12-12), who advance to the Southern California Regionals, beat No. 7 Escondido Adventist Academy (55-34), No. 2 High Tech-San Diego (38-36) and No. 6 Mission Bay (5033) en route to the title game.
Curran, who had 28 points against Mission Bay, finished with 26 Thursday despite missing a chunk of the game with foul trouble.
“It’s my job not just to score but to bring energy,” Curran said. “We wanted to speed Valhalla up, make them play at our pace. We’re a better team when we don’t let the other team set the pace.”
Khandyss Dupree had 16 rebounds, scored 10 points and blocked a shot for Mar Vista. Freshman Allyson Bell didn’t score, but had 11 rebounds and blocked two shots. Anissa Smith also didn’t score, but had eight rebounds.
“That’s what we’ve done all season,” Dupree said. “We’re kind of the dynamic duo. Alysson is only a freshman. I’m so proud of her.”
Bell said it is all a matter of trust. “I got better as the season went on and a lot of that was because I trusted Khandyss,” Bell said. “We were a low seed, but we knew that if we stuck together, we could do anything.”
The Mariners led by 20 after the first basket of the fourth quarter. Valhalla (15-16) cut the deficit to 13 with 3:02 to play, but a Dupree basket and a bucket by Curran had it back to back to 15 and it was time to clear the benches.
Rea Reyes led Valhalla with 10 points, while Alexis Matos had nine points and seven rebounds while sitting out much of the game with foul trouble.
“To be the first team in 72 years to win a girls basketball title at our school is amazing,” Curran said.
Boys Classical Academy 83, Santana 78 (3 OT):
Trailing by 17 midway through the third quarter, Classical Academy came all the way back, forcing overtime on a long 3-pointer by Isaac Davis at the buzzer to end regulation.
The score was tied at 58 at the end of regulation, 67 after the first OT and 73 after the second extra period.
Classical Academy (17-9), the No. 8 seed, finally pulled away in the third overtime with Ethan Davis hitting a pair of 3-pointers.
Isaac Davis and Presley Bruskotter led the Caimans with 21 points each. Luke Sega had 12 points and 17 rebounds. Brody Chapman added 10 points while Life Pollard had five points and eight rebounds.
Lucas Tavares of Santana led all scorers with 22 points.