SECOND HALF RALLY NOT ENOUGH FOR MARAUDER WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Photo by Bruce Jacobsen

CYPRESS - Despite a big second half rally the Marauders weren't able to get over the hump as they finished fourth place in their own tournament.

AVC trailed by 15 points at halftime, but rallied in the third quarter with a 13-0 run only cutting Cypress' lead to 32-30 midway through the quarter.

The Marauders defense was stout in the second half, holding the Chargers, 19th ranked in the state, to only 17% shooting (5-29) the final two periods. Cypress shot a dismal 1-of-13 from 3-point range, while the Marauders were 4-of-28 from behind the arc.

Shantanel Bivens was the only player in double figures for both teams as she recorded her second double-double of the tournament finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

"I see a lot of improvement in this team from the beginning of September until now," Bivens said. "We're a much better team now. We're learning about each other more every day."

Four consecutive points by AVC's Dir'Rashua Patterson pulled the Marauders within four points with 3:27 remaining in the fourth quarter, however, they would get no closer.

AVC's Jasmine Hayes finished with a game-high 12 rebounds as the Marauders outrebounded Cypress 52-43. All-Tournament pick, Shekinah Broadway finished with seven points, five rebounds and two assists.

SEQUOIAS - It had much the same look as the night before when the Marauders remembered their mistakes from a previous match-up and didn't make them for the win.

Down by one at the half, AVC had countered the slow start that hampered their effort in the earlier meeting in Visalia against the two.  But the third quarter looked like the first in that first match-up and were outscored 16-7.

Shekinah Broadway, who led everyone with 18 points tried to cut into that lead, hitting three of her five threes in the fourth quarter - even closing to within three with two minutes left - but it wasn't enough.

SANTA BARBARA - It was a team that beat them by 12 earlier in season, but Marauder Women's Basketball came home in the first round of their AVC Holiday Tournament and gave Santa Barbara City a 57-37 beating.

Actually, for the most part that game was over at half, when the Vaqueros scored just five points in the second quarter compared the AVC's 18.

But Santa Barbara's shooting woes went throughout the game.  Both teams shot 62 times from the field, but AVC hit six more times - and those six were all from three.  Santa Barbara went 0-21 from beyond the arc, while AVC was 6 for 19 with Makaela Manson hitting four of her five attempts.

Shantanel Bivens led everyone with 21 points and 11 rebounds, with Mason hitting for 14 points.  Shekianah Broadway recorded seven assists.