VIKING JV GIRLS GO A TEAR
By Marc Atwood
marcatwood@aol.com
 
(1/8/08 Chico, CA) The Pleasant Valley girls' junior varsity basketball team took a 26-6 lead over Shasta after the first quarter and it managed to hold up as the Vikings took a 67-39 win Tuesday at Varley Gym.
 
Kelsey Miller scored PV's first points of the game with a bucket 49 seconds into the contest. She added another basket off a steal 10 seconds later. The Vikings cracked the double figure mark on a shot by Kiley Mansfield with 5:23 remaining in the first as the lead stood at 11-0. The Wolves finally scored on a free throw by Haylee Welch with 3:35 to go in the period. Welch added a hoop with 2:17 left in the first as Shasta cut its deficit to 21-4.
 
Jordan Henry nailed a shot 20 seconds into the second quarter to bring the Wolves within 18 points at 26-8. She would add a three-pointer with six minutes left in the first half as Shasta's deficit stood at 26-11. Lauren Francis made a free throw five seconds later for Pleasant Valley's first point of the second period. Miller's bucket with 3:55 to go in the half gave the Vikings a 31-16 lead. Brittany Wood's shot 17 seconds left allowed the Wolves to reach the 20-point mark.
 
Katie O'Sullivan connected on a basket 30 seconds into the third quarter to allow PV to take a 38-20 lead. Juliana Hoffman's basket and free throw with 4:37 to go in the third put the Vikings ahead 44-22. A free throw by Carley Sisneros with 2:55 left in the period cut Shasta's deficit to 48-25. Pleasant Valley cracked the 50-point mark on a basket and free throw Mansfield with 1:42 remaining in the quarter as the Vikings took a 51-27 lead.
 
Gina Spini hit a three-pointer with 6:57 remaining in the fourth quarter to give PV a 57-31 lead. A three-pointer by Sisneros with 4:26 to go in the contest cut Shasta's deficit to 28 points at 62-34. Sisneros' free throw with 2:45 left in the game put the score at 64-38. Francis' hoop with 1:20 to go pushed the Vikings' advantage to 67-38.
 
Miller was Pleasant Valley's leading scorer with 17 points. Also in double figures was Spini with 13 points. Hoffman added nine points and four rebounds. Shasta got 13 points and three rebounds from Welch, while Sisneros scored nine points.