The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Moreno Valley
The short-term memory Wright referred to showed Tuesday, as the Vikings sank 10 of 15 shots in the opening quarter to take a 27-17 lead. Alaysha Mills knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the opening two minutes of the game. Medina, Leiayjah Mills and Mckenzie Gillman also connected from distance.
“We were upset after the loss, but we just wanted to refocus that energy into something positive,” said Medina, who made 7 of 10 shots from the field in the game. “We have another chance to win a ring for state. We’re just going to keep on looking forward, not behind.”
Centennial (19-14) went 0-3 in CIF Southern Section Open Division pool play and was playing its first game in 10 days. The Huskies were rattled but not floored by the opening shots dished out by their opponent. Cydnee Bryant scored seven points in the opening quarter to keep Centennial in proximity. The Huskies then went on a 13-2 run at the start of the second quarter and took their first lead midway through that period.
The teams traded baskets the final four minutes of the half, but a basket by Alaysha Mills gave Moreno Valley a 35-34 lead at halftime.
Both teams hit a cold stretch in the third quarter, but the Vikings used a 10-4 run over the final 2 1/2 minutes to take a 49-44 lead into the final period.
Aniyah Offutt scored seven of her gamehigh 27 points early in the fourth quarter to keep Centennial in striking distance. But five points was the closest Centennial would get down the stretch, as the Huskies missed 7 of 11 attempts at the free-throw line during the final period.
Moreno Valley made 24 of 50 shots from the field and 14 of 15 at the free-throw line, which helped offset the team’s 22 turnovers.
“I think we just had to slow things down and make sure we didn’t lose the lead again,” said Alaysha Mills, who was 9 of 14 from the field in the game.
Bryant finished with 13 points and a game-high 21 rebounds for Centennial despite missing much of the third period because of foul trouble.