MURRIETA — The Vista Murrieta girls’ basketball team hosted the 2022 Bronco Varsity Classic last week, where they were edged out of making it to the finals by a strong Beaumont squad. In their final game of pool play Monday, Dec. 19, with both teams garnishing 2-0 records in the tournament, the Cougars went on attack mode. Led by senior Janelle Pilao, who had 26 points in the game, Beaumont got out in front of a tight game in the second quarter, outscoring Vista Murrieta by 15 points to lead 40-25 at the half.

While the Broncos nearly answered the Cougars point-for-point in the third quarter, a 22-4 run in the fourth quarter would put Beaumont in the final game the next day with their 81-43 win over the host school. King High School, who also went undefeated in the Pool A bracket, would join Beaumont in that final game where the Wolves would go on to take the tournament title with a 67-57 win.

Vista Murrieta guard Alyson Pulsipher (23) drives past an Orange Vista defender. Valley News/Action Captures Media Group

This year’s brackets consisted of King (10-2), Heritage (3-5), Kaiser (8-5) and Murrieta Mesa (7-6) in Pool A, and Tri-City Christian (4-5), Orange Vista (3-8) and Beaumont (6-0) in Pool B (as well as host Vista Murrieta). Games tipped-off Thursday, Dec. 15, with pool play taking place through Monday, Dec. 19, and the championship round ensuing the next day on Tuesday, Dec. 20.

Here is a look at the breakdown of the week:

  • Thursday, Dec. 15: Heritage defeated Kaiser 72-33, Sierra Maxwell (H) led all scorers with 24 points; King defeated Murrieta Mesa 70-17, no stats available for King. LaKaila Trimble was the Rams top scorer with 6 points.
  • Friday, Dec. 16: Beaumont defeated Orange Vista 58-17, no stats available; Vista Murrieta defeated Tri-City 64-22, no stats available.
  • Saturday, Dec. 17: Beaumont defeated Tri-City 97-14, no stats available for Beaumont, Tri-City was led by Katie Busch with 8 points; King defeated Heritage 59-30, no stats for King available, Mariah Logan (Jr) led Heritage with 10 points; Murrieta Mesa defeated Kaiser 46-41, Trimble led the Rams with 20 points, no stats available for Kaiser; Vista Murrieta defeated Orange Vista 69-29, no stats available.
  • Monday, Dec. 19: Tri-City defeated Orange Vista 36-33, Tri-City was led by Busch with 18 points; Heritage defeated Murrieta Mesa 84-40, Sierra Maxwell (H) led all scorers with 26 points, Agatha Alba and Sarin Newkirk both had 8 points for Murrieta Mesa; King defeated Kaiser 63-25, no stats available; Beaumont defeated Vista Murrieta 81-43.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 20: Championship games

– 5th place game: Kaiser – 31, Orange Vista – 27: no stats available

– 4th place game: Murrieta Mesa – 57, Tri City – 32: Trimble (MM) led all scorers with 21 points

– 3rd place game: Vista Murrieta – 80, Heritage – 50: no stats for VMHS; Maxwell (H) 29 points

– Championship: King – 67, Beaumont – 57: no stats available

Full game results for the tournament can be found on the Broncos Athletics website at www.vistamurrietaathletics.com/classic. All local teams returned to action earlier this week and those games will be featured in upcoming scoreboard results.

JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.

JP Raineri
JP Raineri

JP is an award-winning multimedia journalist, and head of the Sports Department for the Valley News. Over his time in the Temecula Valley, JP, a former Southwestern League head baseball coach, was also an on-air radio personality at Q103.3, KATY 101.3, Hot 103.9, and was a television host for the Outdoor Channel. When not covering local, or national sports, JP also serves as an Associate Baseball Scout with NSR.

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