BRENTWOOD, Calif. - There seemed to be no shortage of athletic guards running the floor for Vanden-Fairfield on Friday afternoon, as the Vikings built an early lead and had every necessary response in their 70-57 win over Carondelet on the opening day of the West Coast Jamboree.
Playing in the Pearl Division, Vanden (11-1) raced to a nine-point lead after one quarter, as guards Rayonni Mack, Tyliyah Grady and Kiari Roberts dictated the pace and continually penetrated for good looks at the basket. The trio combined for 14 points in the first quarter as the Vikings forged an early 21-12 advantage. Mack would end up saddled by foul trouble throughout the contest, but Grady was a driving force all game for Vanden, while Roberts thrived in transition. Combined with the outside shooting of Jiana Creswell in the second half and the post presence of Joia Armstrong, it all proved too much for a young Carondelet team which has taken its lumps early in the season.
Jayme Blackard was a bright spot during the game for the Cougars (2-7), as she proved able to penetrate the lane against Vanden's defense, hitting an array of lay-ups and runners to finish with a team-high 12 points, but the Vikings had far too many answers. In the third quarter, after leading 35-26 at the half, the Vikings got a huge contribution off the bench from Kalyn Harris, who scored all eight of her points in the period, and seemed to be the answer to each of Bella Zumbo's three-pointers for Carondelet.
Despite Zumbo's outside shooting in the third period, and a couple of transition lay-ups from Kersten Larsen, Vanden only extended its lead, heading to the fourth up 52-40. The game was then put away for good when Creswell found her shooting touch from the outside, draining a pair of three-pointers in the fourth as she finished with 13 points for the Vikings, second only to Grady's game-high 14 points. Armstrong finished with 10 points and Mack had nine points, illustrating the various ways in which the Vikings can attack the basket.
Vanden will now face Laguna Creek in the Pearl Division semifinals, while Carondelet will face Aragon in the consolation half of the bracket.
Pearl Division recap
Berkeley overcame an early deficit after one quarter to down Prairie-Vancouver, 39-34, in the quarterfinals. The Yellowjackets scored 24 of their 39 points in the second and third quarters, after a slow start which saw them trailing 9-7 after one quarter.
Abbotsford-British Columbia made its first day in the tournament a positive one, as the visitors from Canada stormed past Sacramento, 65-48.
Abbotsford and Berkeley will meet in the Pearl semifinals opposite the Vanden vs Laguna Creek game, while Prairie and Sacramento will meet in the consolation bracket.
