EAGLES EDGE LIONS IN PLAYOFF OPENER: The @jserra.girlsbasketball team and the Rancho Christian Eagles produced a down-to-wire thriller in Pool A action of the CIF-SS Open Division Playoffs on Saturday, with the Eagles outlasting the Lions 73-71 at JSerra Catholic High School.
Juniors Vivian Grenald and Kayla Rice combined for 26 first half points, as the Lions held a 41-38 lead at halftime.
The Lions led by five points with 4:10 remaining in the third period, but Rancho Christian used an 11-4 burst to close the period and take a two-point lead into the fourth quarter.
The Eagles stretched the lead to nine points midway into the quarter and held a 71-62 advantage with 2:10 remaining.
But JSerra charged dramatically back into the game with a 9-1 spurt.
Junior Shae Talleur’s third three-point basket of the quarter cut the Lions’ deficit to 72-71 with 17 seconds left.
After an Eagles’ free throw pushed the lead to two points with 5.5 remaining, the Lions had one final possession but was unable to get a shot attempt off before the final buzzer.
Rice connected on 9-of-14 shots from the field and scored a team-high 21 points while also grabbing six rebounds.
Grenald knocked down 6-of-11 shots from the field, scoring 18 points and also grabbing six rebounds.
Talleur connected on five shots from beyond the three-point line and scored 17 points.
Sophomore Hannah Remick tallied nine points and collected a team-best 12 rebounds.
Junior Rosie Santos had a team-leading six assists.
JSerra is now 19-7 overall on the season and will close out Pool A play on Wednesday, when they travel to Ontario Christian High School to play the top-seeded Knights.
#lionnation #jserragirlsbasketball #jserraathletics
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