MANSON'S LATE THREE PROPELS MARAUDER WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM TO VICTORY

Photo by Bruce Jacobsen

VISALIA - Makaela Manson drained a 3-pointer with just under four seconds remaining left in the game helping lift the Marauder women's basketball team to a hard fought 56-55 victory against Porterville College at the Gilcrest Tournament hosted by College of the Sequoias.

"I shot it with one eye closed because they hit me in the eye," Manson said. I just shot it and it went in. Very important victory for us because if we would have lost we were going home. This was a great team win for us. We really played as a team."

Brieanna Perkins made a 3-point shot for the Marauders (3-6) with 2:42 remaining in the game to put her team up 51-50. After the Pirates (2-5) took the lead, AVC's Tamia Huffman (six points, 14 rebounds) made a jump shot with 1:35 to tie the score 53-53.

Porterville's Sydney Tobias made a layup with 20 seconds remaining giving the Pirates a 55-53 lead. As time was running out, Perkins hit Manson in the corner who promptly drained the 3-pointer giving the Marauders the lead. Porterville's Lauren Beath missed a shot at the buzzer sealing the victory for AVC, which plays Foothill College on Saturday.

Manson's heroics spoiled a great night for the Pirates' Denisheun Jackson who finished with 23 points and 18 rebounds. Deja Smith had 15 points and Perkins had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Marauders.