LADY WOLVES TOURNEY: Aggies get experience, not victory

Arbor View girls basketball coach Annette Turley took her team into the Lady Wolves Holiday Tournament hoping her players would gain experience and perhaps a few wins.

The Aggies obtained plenty of experience Saturday, but not a victory.

Despite a dramatic fourth-quarter rally, they ultimately fell 45-39 in double-overtime to Denver East (Colo.) at Basic High School.

Ariona Gill had nine points, nine rebounds, four steals and two blocked shots to lead Arbor View, which trailed 27-20 after three quarters.

“That was some good experience for us,” Turley said. “That’s why we play these tournaments.”

The Aggies dominated the opening minutes, going ahead 9-0 in the first quarter when Tiffani Smith nabbed a steal and sprinted the length of the court for a layup.

But the Angels rallied in the second, outscoring Arbor View 11-0 to take a 17-12 lead into halftime.

“We just came out flat for some reason,” Turley said. “But the girls fought back, and that’s a positive for us.”

The Aggies’ rally began early in the fourth quarter when Gill scored four quick points to ignite a 9-0 run. Arbor View to tied it at 29 on an acrobatic layup by Smith.

A free throw by Caroline Rivera gave the Aggies their first second-half lead at 35-34 with 15.4 seconds left in regulation, but Denver East’s Jon’Nae Richardson hit a free throw with 1.9 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.

The Angels, who went 16 minutes without a field goal in the second half and overtime, stayed alive at the free-throw line. Denver East was 21 of 38 from the line. Jaelynn Smith’s foul shot with 2:10 left in the first overtime forced a second extra period.

“We made a few mental mistakes at the end there,” Turley said. “That happens when you’ve got a new coach and a new system. But they’re getting better.”

By the time the Aggies entered the second overtime, three starters had fouled out, allowing Denver East to take control. Damika Finley-Pond’s layup with 50 seconds left made it 41-37, and the Angels sealed the victory with free throws in the final minute.

Janae Strode had eight points and 11 rebounds to help Arbor View, and Smith finished with six points and five rebounds.

Richardson led Denver East with 17 points.

Legacy 33, Desert Pines 28 — Dani Livingston and C’Aree Stevenson each scored eight points to lead the Longhorns past the Jaguars.

Chrystian Myles and See’Airrah Evans-Collins each scored eight points for Desert Pines, which used an 11-1 third-quarter run to make it close.

Los Alamitos (Calif.) 50, Basic 28 — Dani Iwami scored 12 points to help the Griffins take control early en route to a victory over the Wolves.

Dana Deloney scored 14 points for Basic, which never recovered from a 21-3 first-quarter deficit. Jayla Brown added 10 points for the Wolves.

Mt. Eden (Calif.) 56, Tech 16 — The Monarchs took control early and rolled to a first-round victory over the Roadrunners.

Ferrynn Steen-Williams scored 12 points to lead Mt. Eden’s balanced attack.

Lidia Woosen scored five points to lead Tech, which trailed 39-8 at halftime.