VIKING GIRLS KEEP ON ROLLING
By Marc Atwood
marcatwood@aol.com
 
(2/14/08 Paradise, CA) Having already claimed the top spot in the upcoming Northern Section Division II playoffs, the Pleasant Valley girls' varsity basketball team continued to dominate the competition in the Eastern Athletic League by defeating Paradise 66-44 Thursday at the Bobcats' home gym.
 
Kelsey Mansfield made the Vikings' first basket 37 seconds into the contest. A bucket by Nicole Etchison with 6:27 remaining in the first quarter allowed the Bobcats to tie the score at 2-2. Mansfield's shot with 3:04 to go in the first pushed PV's advantage to 10-2. A free throw by Brooke Alexander with 1:28 left in the period brought Paradise within seven points.
 
Chelsey Ruscillo hit a bucket 23 seconds into the second quarter to cut the Bobcats' deficit to 12-6. Morgan Blofsky responded 27 seconds later with a shot of her own for the Vikings' first score of the period. A three-pointer by Courtney Bobinger with 4:07 remaining in the first half gave Pleasant Valley a 22-13 lead. Katie Hansen's three with 2:28 left in the half brought Paradise within 10 points at 26-16.
 
Kayla Hines opened up the Bobcats second half scoring with a pair of free throws 20 seconds into the third quarter. Emily Drews hit one of two free throws eight seconds later as the Vikings went ahead 32-20. Drews made a hoop with 3:53 remaining in the third to give PV a 44-22 lead. Etchison hit a shot with 2:58 to go in the period as Paradise cut its deficit to 46-28.
 
Bobinger's bucket with 6:45 remaining in the fourth quarter extended the Vikings' advantage to 56-33. Jennifer Jackson connected on a hoop with 4:07 left in the game as the Bobcats trailed 61-35. A free throw from Ruscillo with 2:38 to go in the contest brought Paradise within 28 points at 64-36. Rachel Grimm made a basket with 1:58 left as Pleasant Valley extended its lead to 66-38.
 
Drews led the Vikings with 19 points and eight rebounds. Bobinger scored 14 points and Blofsky added 11 points and six rebounds. The Bobcats got 11 points and five rebounds from Etchison, while Ruscillo scored 10 points.