VIKING GIRLS CLEAN OFF PANTHERS
By Marc Atwood
marcatwood@aol.com
 
(1/17/08 Chico, CA) The Pleasant Valley girls' varsity basketball team caused problems early for Chico and then proceeded to take a 60-37 win Thursday at "The Panther Pit."
 
It took nearly a minute and a half for the first score to be tallied as Morgan Blofsky made the Vikings' first points with a basket with 6:29 remaining in the first quarter. Miesha Kimble made one of two free throws with 4:33 to go in the first as the Panthers were down 6-1.
 
A three-pointer by Courtney Bobinger 41 seconds into the second quarter allowed PV to take an 11-3 lead. Chloe Bartel hit a pair of free throws with 4:34 remaining in the first half to bring Chico within 11 points at 16-5. Kelsey Mansfield made a shot with 2:57 to go in the half to give the Vikings a 19-5 advantage. Kimble's bucket with 29 seconds left closed the gap for Chico at 26-9.
 
Pleasant Valley took a 31-9 lead to start the second half when Paige Burington made a basket 15 seconds into the third quarter. Kimble's hoop and free throw with 6:46 remaining in the third cut the Panthers' deficit at 31-12. Ashley Barrett nailed a shot with 1:38 to go in the period as Chico was down 44-18.
 
Bobinger's free throws seven seconds into the fourth quarter gave the Vikings a 46-24 lead. Bartel hit one of two free throws nine seconds later for the Panthers' first point of the period. Bobinger added another pair of free throws with 6:23 remaining in the game to put PV at 50 points. A free throw by Marion Wolfe with five minutes to go gave the Vikings a 30-point lead at 55-25. Erica Wieck hit a pair of free throws with 2:45 left in the game as Pleasant Valley went up 57-31.
 
The Vikings were led by Bobinger's 20 points. Emily Drews scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds. Burington added eight points and three rebounds. Kimble led the Panthers with 12 points and six rebounds, while Barrett scored nine points and collected three rebounds.
 
Pleasant Valley improved its overall record to 14-4 and its Eastern Athletic League record to 5-0, while Chico dropped to 10-7 overall and 3-2 in league play. The Vikings will travel to Red Bluff Tuesday, Jan. 22, while the Panthers will be at home on Tuesday taking on Shasta.