California High School Basketball - Villa Park topped by Pacifica
December 16, 2014: Villa Park, CA 92861 The Villa Park Spartans basketball team (Villa Park, CA), dropped 69-59 in Tuesday's non-league battle with the visiting Pacifica Mariners (Garden Grove, CA)
The Mariners now possess a 8-2 record. They put it on the line next when they travel to Tesoro for a non-league battle on Wednesday, December 17. Pacifica will battle a Titans team coming off a 58-31 non-league win over Corona del Mar (Newport Beach, CA). The Titans record now stands at 4-1.
The Spartans (1-4) will now prepare for their battle against Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA). The Titans come into the non-league battle with a 5-1 record. In their last battle, Tesoro prevailed over Pacifica (Garden Grove, CA), 47-26, in a non-league battle.
First Quarter
The Mariners got out to a quick start, knocking down 3 three-pointers and converting 6 of 12 freethrows en route to a 23-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. Taylor Ivicevic led Pacifica with 9 points in the quarter, while Villa Park was led by Lizzie Salmond's 10 points.
Notes: The Spartans played without leading scorer Alexis Smith, who missed the game due to an unspecified leg injury.
Selected Game Totals:
FOUL SHOOTING:
Villa Park 1-4
Pacifica 19-34
Second Quarter
The Spartans pulled to within two points at halftime by outscoring the Mariners 18-11 in the second quarter. Lizzie Salmond continued her hot shooting in the paint by adding 11 points in the quarter to give her 21 at the half. Key to the Mariners 34-32 lead was their 19-2 advantage at the free throw line.
Third Quarter
Despite the game's leading-scorer Lizzie Salmond missing most of the period after picking up her fourth foul on a highly-questionable call early in the quarter, the Spartans outscored the Mariners 10-8 in the quarter to forge a 42-42 tie at the third period horn.
Fourth Quarter
The Mariners pulled away late in the fourth quarter after three Spartan starters - including game-high scorer (25 pts) Lizzie Salmond - fouled out. Highly-questionable officiating certainly played a part in the outcome, as several foul calls were clearly of the "phantom" variety. In the end, the Mariners enjoyed a 34-4 foul-shot advantage, largely in part to the foul calls going their way, 28-14.
Despite the loss and suspect officiating, it was an inspiring performance by Spartans. In addition to Salmond's personal-best and game-high 25 points, she grabbed 11 boards and blocked 3 shots. Lauryn Robinson - in her first start (in place of the Spartans' injured leading scorer Alexis Smith) - grabbed 8 rebounds and drew 3 charges. Jayme Ehlert had a solid game with 13 points and 5 assists, and Becky Obimna came off the bench to make all four of her shots for a personal-best 8 points, and also grabbed 5 rebounds.
