Mercy of San Francisco’s unlikely season of success came to an end Tuesday night at as Valley Christian of San Jose outmuscled the host Skippers 60-21 in the Central Coast Divison IV girls’ basketball semifinals.
Mercy (22-7) looked out of sorts from the get-go and Valley Christian (25-6) used a 14-0 run to open the game and bury the Skippers early.
“They made us play tenative,” Mercy coach Mike Gutierrez said of his team’s first-half play. “We haven’t played against that kind of athleticism this year and it kind of threw us.”
Of his team’s surprising play this season, in which the Skippers won 12 of their last 15 games and came within one game of the final, Gutierrez said, “Nobody expected us to do what we’ve done, our center’s 5-6. I’m very very proud of what our team’s accomplished.”
Valley Christian 60, Mercy (S.F.) 21
VALLEY CHRISTIAN (25-6)
Kelsey Byrd 16, A.J. Newton 14, Amy Griffith 12, Taylor Robertson 6, Jazmyne Ross 4, Jasmine Davis 3, Kiley McDermott 3, Monica Jackson 2. Total 60.
MERCY (22-7)
Rachelle Leung 6, Bria Eison 4, Danielle Lasirona 4, Breanna McNeil 3, Maria Kharon 2, Keanna Robles 2. Total 21.
Valley Christian 20 11 17 12 — 60
Mercy 7 0 9 5 — 21
3-pointers: VC—Byrd 1, Davis 1, McDermott 1. M—None. Rebounding leader: VC—Griffith 11. M—McNeil, Robles 5.
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