Written by: Tyler Hawkins
2/13/2009 11:14 PM

What a game tonight between 5A powers Vallivue and Centennial. I arrived midway through the first quarter and was welcomed by a nice drop step move from Patriot center Jade McNorton. That wasn’t the last I’d hear from her as both teams battled down to the wire for the 5A SIC Girls Championship.

Neither club disappointed. The Patriots seemed to have the momentum headed into half, but Vallivue guard Devan Matkin hit a step back jumper on the baseline to close the gap 23-14 headed into the locker room. Word from a fan I spoke to was that Utah St. signee Devyn Christensen was a little off in the first half, perhaps even a bit nervous.

If that was the case she showed no signs of an off night in the second half. The girl knows how to play and I was truly impressed. She’s got a nice perimeter game to go with a good understanding of how to make plays for her team. I had her with 26 points in my notes.

Centennial played great. McNorton didn’t particularly have a big game but she did have some nice post moves in crunch time. Vallivue swarmed her with double and triple teams but her teammates were there to help. Big plays by Nicole Kissinger and Taylor Hagood halted the Falcons ferocious comeback in the fourth quarter.

Early in the third quarter Christensen netted a 3-pointer to close the lead 49-46, it gets better, she then buried another three to knot the score 49 all. Matkin and Christensen then connected on a sweet give and go on the fast break for a 51-50 lead. Kissinger of Centennial wasn’t fazed as she answered with a big three to go back up two.

At one point it was as if McNorton and Christensen were two heavyweight boxers going at it. Christensen would hit a 3, McNorton would go to work in the paint. They even got caught in a mismatch that had McNorton checking Christensen at the top of the key. That sequence led to McNorton’s fourth foul and Christensen sinking two from the charity stripe making it 53-53 at the 2:37 mark. Credit each star for their ability and willingness to do their
damage within the team concept.

With 2:10 to go Christensen rang up another three that got the Vallivue fans up off their seats to go up 56-53. The Pats undefeated streak was in jeopardy. McNorton answered with a drop step to cut the Falcon lead to one .

After a missed shot by the Falcons, Nicole Kissinger was able to draw a foul and hit two clutch free throws making it 57-56. Here we go. Vallivue again missed but McNorton was unable to convert her free throws at the other end. Opportunity had knocked yet again for the Falcons. This time it was Sophomore Shawnee McBride that couldn’t connect on the front end of a one and one with 18.5 to go. Centennial got the board, Vallivue was forced to foul. Taylor Hagood calmly made two free throws to push Pats lead to three. With the clock winding down Christensen’s final three rimmed out with Centennial corralling the rebound. Ball game.

Congratulations to Coach Emery Roy and the 5A SIC Girls Champions Centennial Patriots….23-0
 

Trackback Print

Location: Blogs Ty Hawkins

Your name:
Title:
Comment:
Security Code Enter the code shown above in the box below
Add Comment    Cancel