MENIFEE – The Vista Murrieta girls’ basketball team has gotten off to a great start winning five of their first six preseason games, which includes a non-conference 71-53 victory against Paloma Valley Tuesday, Dec. 13.
The Wildcats kept the game close as they were only down 27-25 going into halftime. Vista Murrieta guard Alyson Pulsipher and center Laisha Lazu both knocked down 9 points to lead the scoring in the first half, while trying to keep Paloma Valley’s Ashlee Medrano at bay. Medrano accounted for 13 of the Wildcats points in the first two quarters, finishing with 25 overall.
The third quarter is where Vista Murrieta (5-1) put the game out of reach, outscoring the host team, 25-13, and then 19-15 in the fourth quarter. Pulsipher finished the game with 30 points, Lazu had 16, and senior forward, Makena Ching, added 11 points as another one of Vista Murrieta’s top scorers. Senior Christianna Hawkins assisted with 11 points for Paloma Valley, who are now 6-5 on the season.
Neither team was ranked in the latest CIF-SS polls, released Tuesday, Dec. 13, but as far as local teams getting notice, Murrieta Valley did come at No. 7 in Div. 3AA, Rancho Christian was No. 1 in Div. 3A, followed by Great Oak at No.2, San Jacinto Valley Academy was ranked No. 16 in Div. 4AA, California Lutheran came in at No. 11 in Div. 4A, Linfield Christian was No. 13 in Div. 5AA, and West Valley was No. 4 in Div. 5A.
Before the holiday break, Vista Murrieta (Pool B) will be hosting the Bronco Classic, consisting of King (7-2), Heritage (2-4), Kaiser (6-2), and Murrieta Mesa (6-5) in Pool A, and Tri-City Christian (4-3), Orange Vista (3-6), and Beaumont (4-0) in Pool B. Games tip-off Thursday, Dec. 15, with pool play taking place through Monday, Dec. 19. Championship Tuesday will get underway starting at 2 p.m. with the final game to be played at 7 p.m.
Paloma Valley will take on Temecula Valley Thursday, Dec. 15, then will go into their holiday break. Both teams return to action after Christmas, with games on Monday, Dec. 26 (VM against San Jacinto Valley Academy), and Tuesday, Dec. 27 (PV vs. Sahuaro of Arizona).
All stats, schedules, photos and scores, are supplied by local high school athletic directors, MaxPreps, CIF-SS offices, contributing writers/photographers and countless fans of the games via social media. To submit any additions or corrections to the schedule or stats, please email sports@reedermedia.com.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at jp@reedermedia.com.
