Lancers defeat Wildcats 36-31 in Fort Bragg Triple Threat Tournament final
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FORT BRAGG >> Mountain Vista Middle School’s A girls basketball team, fresh off winning the Lake County Junior High Athletic League postseason tournament last week, won three straight games Friday and Saturday to capture the championship in the Fort Bragg Triple Threat Tournament of Champions in Fort Bragg.
Mountain Vista defeated Upper Lake Middle School 36-31 in the championship game Saturday, improving to 4-0 against the Wildcats this season.
“Upper Lake came out at the jump ready to play,” Mountain Vista head coach Shaun Robinson said.
The two teams were never separated by much. Upper Lake took a 26-25 lead into the fourth quarter after making three 3-pointers in the third quarter. The Lancers battled back down the stretch to take the lead and win the game and championship.
Aubrey Mullen led Mountain Vista with 10 points, Samaya Ellis added nine and both Jodeci Meadows and Kaylee Robinson had eight. Meadows was named tournament most valuable player while teammates Mullen and Mezzy Ellis were honored on the All-Tournament team.
“We had an incredible season, with all members of the team working well together to achieve our team’s goals,” Robinson said. “I am incredibly proud of what they girls have accomplished this year.”
Sabrina Wenning and Marina Quiett led the Wildcats with nine points apiece while Charlie Robbins and Jordin Hughes each had five.
Quiett and Melissa Murphy, a sixth-grader, were named to the All-Tournament team.
“The game remained tight until the final minutes, and although we came up short, I am extremely proud of the way our team battled from start to finish,” Upper Lake coach Derick Hughes said.
Mountain Vista advanced to the championship game with a 44-28 win over Mendocino in the semifinals early Saturday. The Lancers jumped out to a 15-0 lead and were up 22-5 by the end of the first quarter.
After being held scoreless in the second quarter, the Lancers bounced back in the second half and took a 36-16 lead into the fourth quarter.
Meadows led the team with 15 points, Mezzy Ellis added seven and Robinson had six.
Upper Lake defeated Fort Bragg 36-35 in overtime in its semifinal game early Saturday. Quiett led the way with 13 points and Robbins added eight. Wenning hit clutch free throws as a key 3-pointer in the overtime to help the Wildcats seal the victory, according to Hughes.
In first-round play Friday, Mountain Vista beat Baechtel Grove 51-34 behind a 15-2 first quarter. Meadows collected 23 points in the victory while Mullen added nine.
Upper Lake beat Point Arena 38-28 in first-round play Friday as Quiett led the Wildcats with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. Wenning chipped in nine points and Robbins had eight points as well a team-best 16 rebounds.
