Springfield was a tough out, but the McClave Lady Cardinals rode the back of senior Jerrica Mallard Saturday, as they beat the Lady Longhorns 58-41 to advance to the State Basketball Tournament for the eighth time in the last nine years.
Mallard's career-high 34 points provided the difference as McClave won the Regional competition in the new format CSAAA has provided.
With four teams meeting at one site, McClave met Moffat in the first round Friday evening. Using their pressure defense, the Cards jumped all over the Cowboys to lead 18-2 after just one period.
With a 37-8 halftime lead, McClave coach Dick Peecher was able to use reserves throughout part of the third quarter and all of the fourth. Mallard was again the ringleader with 16, while fellow senior Shelby Coen had 14. Junior Jordan Melgoza and sophomore Karlee Stuart each contributed eight. Stuart had another outstanding game; in addition to her eight points, she corralled 10 rebounds, handed out eight assists, and had five steals.
With a trip to the Final Eight at stake, to be held this year in Greeley for the first time, McClave and Springfield slugged it out early in the championship game. While Mallard had eight points in the period, two hoops from Coen gave McClave just a bit of breathing room at 16-10 as the first quarter ended. McClave extended their lead to nine at halftime 34-25 behind 13 points from Mallard in the period, but the Lady Longhorns came out and scored the first five points of the third stanza to narrow the lead to four. They cut that lead to four three different times but could never get closer.
Again, Mallard was big as she answered every Springfield challenge with another bucket, scoring nine points in the quarter, as the Cards led 49-38 after three.
The vaunted Cardinal defense took over in the final period, holding Springfield to just three free throws throughout. When the final horn sounded, McClave had earned their second consecutive trip to the State Tournament.
"It wasn't pretty, but at this point in the season, you just worry about the W. I was worried about Springfield because they have a lot of talent, as much as anyone we have faced this year. “Jerrica (Mallard) stepped up big time in this one; she knocks down a career high to get us to State. Everytime Springfield scored, it seemed like it was Jerrica that answered back. We had solid contributions from several players though. You never lose the excitement of going to the state tournament - it is a fun, fun time," said Peecher after the game to reporters.
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Springfield was a tough out, but the McClave Lady Cardinals rode the back of senior Jerrica Mallard Saturday, as they beat the Lady Longhorns 58-41 to advance to the State Basketball Tournament for the eighth time in the last nine years.
Mallard's career-high 34 points provided the difference as McClave won the Regional competition in the new format CSAAA has provided.
With four teams meeting at one site, McClave met Moffat in the first round Friday evening. Using their pressure defense, the Cards jumped all over the Cowboys to lead 18-2 after just one period.
With a 37-8 halftime lead, McClave coach Dick Peecher was able to use reserves throughout part of the third quarter and all of the fourth. Mallard was again the ringleader with 16, while fellow senior Shelby Coen had 14. Junior Jordan Melgoza and sophomore Karlee Stuart each contributed eight. Stuart had another outstanding game; in addition to her eight points, she corralled 10 rebounds, handed out eight assists, and had five steals.
With a trip to the Final Eight at stake, to be held this year in Greeley for the first time, McClave and Springfield slugged it out early in the championship game. While Mallard had eight points in the period, two hoops from Coen gave McClave just a bit of breathing room at 16-10 as the first quarter ended. McClave extended their lead to nine at halftime 34-25 behind 13 points from Mallard in the period, but the Lady Longhorns came out and scored the first five points of the third stanza to narrow the lead to four. They cut that lead to four three different times but could never get closer.
Again, Mallard was big as she answered every Springfield challenge with another bucket, scoring nine points in the quarter, as the Cards led 49-38 after three.
The vaunted Cardinal defense took over in the final period, holding Springfield to just three free throws throughout. When the final horn sounded, McClave had earned their second consecutive trip to the State Tournament.
"It wasn't pretty, but at this point in the season, you just worry about the W. I was worried about Springfield because they have a lot of talent, as much as anyone we have faced this year. “Jerrica (Mallard) stepped up big time in this one; she knocks down a career high to get us to State. Everytime Springfield scored, it seemed like it was Jerrica that answered back. We had solid contributions from several players though. You never lose the excitement of going to the state tournament - it is a fun, fun time," said Peecher after the game to reporters.
