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RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA — JSerra’s girls basketball team experienced a few doses of adversity in the first round of the Trinity League.
On Tuesday, the Lions responded.
JSerra united on defense and remained diverse on offense to snap a three-game slide in league with a 61-48 victory against host Santa Margarita in a clash of teams ranked in the top-four in Orange County.
Vivian Grenald scored 23 points, Kayla Rice had 19 points and Rosie Santos added a season-high 11 assists as the No. 4 Lions (18-5, 1-3) opened the second round of league by avenging a 47-43 loss to No. 3 Santa Margarita (17-8, 2-2) on Jan. 15.
“We just came together as a team,” Santos said. “(The slide) was a very humbling experience for us. I think (this win) just shows our character and how we bounce back and how we responded to that adversity and it just makes us more prepared.”
JSerra’s response surfaced on defense, especially in the first half.
With defensive specialist Reese Katkin out with a shoulder injury, the Lions held the Eagles to 23 points in opening a 33-23 lead at intermission.
JSerra limited explosive Elle Palmer to six points in the opening half and 11 for the game.
Grenald helped open the 10-point lead in the second quarter by scoring off a steal of an inbound pass under the Santa Margarita basket. The junior guard/forward finished with three steals.
JSerra opened the second half on a 10-1 run to put Santa Margarita in comeback mode.
Grenald sparked the surge by pulling up on a fastbreak for a 3-pointer.
In the first half, Grenald attacked the basket to earn seven foul shots. She made all seven.
“She’s a hard matchup,” Santa Margarita coach Seyram Bell said of Grenald, who grabbed 12 rebounds. “She’s bigger and stronger than guards. She has the ability to finesse around post players.”
Santa Margarita sliced an 18-point deficit to nine points in the fourth quarter but Santos’ passing helped seal the win. The junior found Brooklyn Burton open for consecutive baskets with two minutes and 1:22 left to push the Lions lead to 61-47.
Burton finished with four points.
“I wish I played with her,” JSerra coach Rachael Ziemann said of Santos. “People call her the assassin. She throws dots.”
“Not everyone has her vision and her passing ability,” the coach added of Santos, who had two steals and a block.
Shae Talleur chipped in three 3-pointers for JSerra.
Jasmine Williams sank three 3-pointers en route to 11 points off the bench in the third quarter for Santa Margarita. The junior finished with 16 points. Madi Lam added 11 points and seven rebounds.
“I definitely think we need to grow in the consistency column,” Bey said. “That’s one of our goals, just keep growing.”
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