Madison captures holiday championship

Kayla Usborne fouled out in the opening round of the Madison holiday tournament but came back with a vengeance in the title game to help lead the Blue Devils to victory.

MADISON » Madison’s Kayla Usborne and Otselic Valley’s Amber Meigs put on an impressive scoring display last winter in the first round of Blue Devils’ annual Christmas tournament, each eclipsing 30 points in a victory or the hosts.

Friday they met again, this time for a holiday title tilt that again went in favor of Usborne and Co.

The junior guard scored all 12 of her points in the first half and also finished the game with a team-high 12 rebounds, taking home MVP honors for her team in a 47-18 victory.

“It’s a good feeling (to win MVP) but you know, I fouled out yesterday and I got in foul trouble early,” said Usborne. “I didn’t necessarily help the team out in points. Our freshman really stepped up. But today I was glad I could contribute to the team.”

Teammate Jordan Mayne turned in an impressive ef- fort as well, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while Kierston Abrams added eight points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Meigs led the Vikings with eight points in defeat, well below her season average of 22.

“I’m pretty confident in any of the players on my team defensively,” said Madison coach Payge Lehman. “It’s a great feeling to have. I can put anybody on her and have confidence that we can stop her or at least hold her to an average number of points.”

Usborne got the Blue Devils started, scoring the first basket one minute into the game. Maygan Roy followed with a putback basket on the other end to even the score before Usborne assisted on an Ashley Mayne jump shot that gave Madison a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. Usborne netted the game’s next six points, carving her way through the Vikings 2-3 zone to help her team take a 12-4 lead into the second quarter.

“My game’s just driving and passing out but I was seeing open shots so I just was taking them and making them,” she said. “Later on in the game I was passing it around. When you have a good team like we have this year you just pass it to whoever’s hot at the time”

Meigs netted her first point on a free throw28 seconds into the second period butMadison scored the next six, including four straight fromUsborne to capthe run and force a Vikings’ timeout with 5:47 to play in the half. Abrams then foundthe scoring touch, picking up six points to help extend the lead to 28-9 going into intermission.

The hosts continued to pull away in the second half, led by Lehman’s two freshman in the third quarter. Maryellen Coleman scored Madison’s first four points of the period before Christa Usborne got behind the Vikings defense three straight times in transition. She added free throwfor her seventh straight point and the Blue Devils took a 43-15 lead into the fourth quarter.

“Sometimes we go back and forth at each other in practice, a little rivalry in the house,” said Kayla Usborne of playing with her younger sister. “But it’s good, I was happy for her yesterday. She really stepped it upwhenwe needed her to.”

Coleman, meanwhile, finishedwith five rebounds and four blocks to go with her four points, earning a spot on the all-tournament team.

“I’ve told my teamthat all year long, we have nine on the teamand any given night any one of them can step up and be a big scorer for us,” said Lehman. “That’s great.”

Meigs andLeahKalinwere named to the all-tournament team fromOtselic Valley.

Kayla Usborne posted a double-double to lead Madison to a holiday tournament title on Friday.