Late 3-pointer sends Lincoln past Lady Acorns
MORGAN HILL — The Lady Acorns redeemed their sloppy ball-handling with clutch defensive play off the glass Tuesday, but they were one rebound away from earning a seismic win on the opening night of West Valley Division play.
After missing a game-tying free throw and watching two of her teammates brick put-back attempts, Lincoln’s Sierra Alvarez swished a deep 3-pointer with eight seconds left, pushing her team to a 34-32 victory in Live Oak Gym. Alvarez got the ball from forward Brianna Jimenez, who rebounded her own missed shot and another one by Semani Yehdego.
“It wasn’t about one player tonight; it wasn’t about a last-second 3 by Sierra. It was about the whole team stepping up when we needed it most,” Lions coach Keith Crowther said. “Traditionally, we’re not the best shooting team. Our defense runs our offense.”
Lincoln, which was outrebounded 41-30, sealed the victory when Alvarez broke up Jacey Turay’s pass intended for Ariana Guerrero at midcourt with four seconds remaining. It was the Acorns’ 27th turnover — perhaps the most telling statistic of the night.
“We didn’t protect the ball like we needed to,” said Turay, a 5-foot-11 senior post. “It’s disappointing. We felt like we had this team beat tonight.”
The score was tied or in Live Oak’s favor for all but one minute, 37 seconds.
The Acorns (2-7 overall, 0-1 league) netted the first nine points of the third quarter to build their biggest lead, 22-13. The Lions (2-7, 1-0) answered with an 8-0 scoring run that included four of Jimenez’s team-high nine points, but Fa Saulala hit a short jumper and point guard Meghan Perez a free throw to make Live Oak’s lead 27-24 going into the fourth quarter.
“I’m really proud of the way these girls work hard,” Acorns coach Jeff Perkins said. “There’s no quit in them, and that’s why I think we’re going to bounce back well from this. The effort was definitely there tonight.”
Turay pulled down five rebounds to go with five points and four blocks, and Saulala finished with a game-high 14 points and 12 rebounds. The freshman post scored eight points on second-chance opportunities.
Guerrero and Danielle Dukes added seven rebounds apiece, and Perez totaled eight points and four steals.
“It was a cat fight. That’s how every league game is going to be,” Crowther said.
After Perez dished to Turay for a wide-open layup that pushed Live Oak in front 30-28, Lincoln switched to a full-court press for the final 4 1/2 minutes. The Acorns made one shot the rest of the way: Perez’s go-ahead layin near the two-minute mark.
“Their press gave us problems,” Turay said. “We weren’t getting open shots, and, when we did, we didn’t make them.”
Live Oak appeared on the way to victory after the Lions were called for traveling with 52 seconds remaining. But Alvarez stole the inbounds pass, setting up the decisive four-point trip.
“I’m happy with the way we played, but it’s definitely one that got away,” Perkins said. “It should never have come down to a 3 at the end.”
Alvarez, a sophomore guard, collected five rebounds and four steals and matched Yehdego with eight points.
Kumar scores 25 in Lady Bulldogs loss
Silver Creek withstood a career night by Sobrato’s Pryanka Kumar to win Tuesday’s Mount Hamliton Division opener, 67-58, in Sobrato Main Gym.
Kumar, a junior forward, broke through for 25 points and six rebounds, and Katie Nicca and Alejandra Villamares added 14 and 13 points, respectively, for the Lady Bulldogs (3-8, 0-1).
The Raiders pulled away in the second quarter after trailing 12-9 at the end of the first.
BOYS SOCCER
Jackson’s goal sends SHS to tie in league debut
The Bulldogs’ winless streak reached five games Tuesday — but not in the worst way.
Austin Jackson scored a first-half goal off of an assist by Shawn Henner as Sobrato opened Santa Teresa Division play with a 1-1 tie against Gunderson. The host Grizzlies scored the equalizer in the second half.
Ramsey Ghamrawi tallied nine saves for Sobrato (1-1-4, 0-0-1).
LO settles for another tie
The visiting Acorns scored once in both halves, including the game-tying goal in the second, Tuesday to earn a 2-2 draw against Del Mar in their West Valley premiere.
It was the fourth consecutive tie for Live Oak (0-2-5, 0-0-1).
