WEST COAST JAMBOREE: Casa Grande rebounds to get a win in Sapphire Bracket

Casa Grande rebounded on the final day of Sapphire Bracket play at the West Coast Jamboree by upending Avalon of Catalina Island, 45-34. The Friday venue in consolation play was moved to Berean Christian in Walnut Creek, and the change of location from Concord appeared to suit the Gauchos.w

After suffering two consecutive defeats on second-half breakdowns, Casa got solid scoring efforts from center Mia Cain and shooting guard Cassidy McKinney to pull out the victory and the aroused Gauchos closed out the year on a positive note.

At the beginning of the game, it looked to be a Gaucho blowout as they rushed to a 15-4 advantage in the first quarter behind the inside scoring of Cain. The junior center got early excellent position deep on the block, and was rewarded with good entry passes from Hannah Sullivan, Samantha Schaefer and McKinney. Cain had 16 points at intermission and Casa Grande took a 23-13 lead to the locker room.

In the second half, it was more of Cain and help from the energetic McKinney, who finished with 13 points. Avalon did not go away, but the Lady Lancers got no closer than eight points.

Cain was the leading point maker for both clubs as she finished with a double-double by dumping in 21 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.

McKinney chipped in with six boards and a strong floor game as the Gauchos improved to 7-3 for the season.

The only negative was a couple of injuries to Schaefer and Sullivan in the second half. Sullivan was shaken at bit, but returned after she was staggered under the basket.

Schaefer suffered shoulder discomfort. The extent of the injury was not known at the end of the game.

Avalon was led in scoring by Savanah Felix, who managed 11 points after a scoreless first period. The Lancers, a Division IV entry from the Southern Section, slipped to 4-4 for the season.

Late-game fall

Casa Grande was victimized by a second consecutive late comeback when the Lady Gauchos fell to shorthanded Turlock, 48-39, in the second afternoon of play at Ygnacio Valley High School. Casa rushed to a 28-23 advantage at intermission, and appeared to be pulling away before the Sac Joaquin Section entry turned the tables down the stretch.

Turlock came into the game with only six players in uniform. Two future players were on the sideline because of inter-district transfer rules prohibiting their participation for a semester, and point guard Sara Mussleman had not cleared concussion protocol.

The situation gave extended playing time to one of the best players in the Sapphire Bracket, Jaydon Williams of the Lady Bulldogs. Williams played every minute, and she turned in a terrific performance with 26 points and eight rebounds.

At almost every opportunity, the athletic senior forward sliced between Gaucho defenders at the foul line area to knock in driving lay-in baskets.

Casa coach Dan Sack had a feeling that the Lady Bulldogs might have a second-half run left in them, and his prediction was right on the money. The spurt lasted for the final two periods, however, when the Dogs outscored Casa Grande, 25-11.

“These last two games have been made to order for our match-up zone, but our back side defenders have not been covering,” he explained. “Turlock was getting tired, and we did not take advantage.”

Casa got good scoring efforts from McKinney and center Cain, but it wasn’t enough. Both veterans tossed in 15 points. The hustling McKinney did her best on both ends of the floor to keep the Gauchos close with eight boards, but was limited to only five points in the second half.

Cain pulled down 10 rebounds and battled the tall tandem of Shae Williams and Mckenzie Ussery for ball possession. She was able to put points on the board on some well-directed entry passes from Sullivan.

First-game loss

Bradshaw Christian of Sacramento went on a scoring rampage in the third quarter to knock Casa Grande into the consolation bracket of the Sapphire Division with a convincing 57-43 win on Wednesday. Bradshaw outscored the stunned Lady Gauchos, 25-2, after intermission by connecting on 10-of-17 shots from the floor.

Everything fell apart for Casa after a 24-24 deadlock at the break, and the Gauchos added to their woes in the stanza by turning the ball over seven times while connecting on only 1-of-15 shots from the floor. Freshman Emma Reese helped avoid a complete shutout by connecting on a short shot late in the quarter.

Junior guard Evon Bince of the Pride rimmed three shots from deep in the corner to finish with all of her nine points for the contest as Bradshaw improved to 3-4 for the season.

Casa led for most of the first half in the quickly paced, move-up-and-down-the-floor game. Sullivan hit twice from long range, and McKinney chipped in with seven points before things fell apart in the fateful third stanza.

Sullivan kept her outside shot oiled up in the fourth period to wind up with a team-leading 16 points for Casa Grande. Sullivan had to change uniforms and miss valuable court time because a spot of blood was noticed on her jersey by the officials.

Cain finished in double figures with 10 points and pulled down six rebounds, but the Pride dominated the inside game. “We lost concentration and didn’t keep a body on a couple of those big girls,” said a disappointed Sack. “Sometimes that begins in practice when focus is an important issue.”

Despite some occasional early loose cross-court passing, the Pride from Sacramento got a rush of scoring led by 21 points by freshman guard Anaya Mejia. Five consecutive made shots helped Bradshaw pull away. Jolene DeLaney added 14 points for the Pride.