SIERRA VISTA GIRLS TOURNEY: Bell rings up 34 points, leads Durango to title

Outside shooting often suffers late in tournaments when legs grow tired, causing jump shots to lose their zip.

It was just the opposite for Durango on Tuesday.

Playing their sixth game in a four-day span, the Trailblazers shot 10-for-12 from the field in the first quarter, including 4-for-4 from 3-point range.

By the time they cooled off, they had enough cushion to hold off Sierra Vista 61-54 in the championship game of the Sierra Vista Invitational.

As usual senior guard and UNLV signee Mia Bell led the charge for the Trailblazers, scoring 18 points in the first quarter as the Trailblazers took a 26-19 lead.

Bell made her first eight field goals, including three 3s. She finished with 34 points, 27 in the first half.

“She’s just the backbone of the team,” Durango coach Lindsay Callaghan said. “The rest of the kids are kind of getting used to playing with her and seeing what their role is.”

For most of the first half, that role was to stay out of the way and let Bell create her own shot.

Not only did she made five 3s in the half, she was able to penetrate against man-to-man and zone defenses, getting to the basket for layups or pulling up for mid-range jumpers.

When Sierra Vista defenders cut her off, Bell dished to open shooters on the perimeter. Durango made nine 3-pointers by halftime.

“Mia’s phenomenal,” Callaghan said. “I can’t really say anything else about her. There’s nothing she can’t do.”

The Trailblazers cooled off in the second half and rushed a few shots that helped Sierra Vista battle back. The Mountain Lions got as close as 57-54 after two free throws by Nicolette Grigsby with 1:09 remaining.

But Bell responded with a three-point play to pad Durango’s cushion.

“It was just taking our time on offense,” Callaghan said. “We had the lead. We didn’t need to rush and try to find a basket like they did.”

Bell also had five assists, and senior Kristen Gaines grabbed 10 rebounds for Durango.

Jeanette Jackson had 15 points and four assists to lead Sierra Vista. Teena Baxter added 14 points and five assists, and Grigsby had 12 points and nine rebounds.

Durango 45, Wooster 24 — The Trailblazers held the Colts to four second-half points to move into the title game. Cindy Klinholm had 15 points to lead Durango.

Sierra Vista 44, Arbor View 26 — Grigsby scored 11 points as the Mountain Lions beat the Aggies in the semifinals.

Jackson and Kim Rouzer each had 10 points for Sierra Vista. Erika Lang led Arbor View with 11 points.