Bonanza hangs on vs. GV

Adam Candee

Friday, Dec. 27, 2002 | 9:59 a.m.

Beaten vertically before it took the court, Bonanza decided to stretch Green Valley horizontally, and the strategy paid off.

The Bengals leaned on their speedy transition game to explode for 25 points in the third quarter, and then held off a late Gators rally to earn a 63-55 win in pool play of the Lady Bulldog Holiday Classic at Bonanza.

Bonanza came out fired up for its first meeting with Green Valley in a few years and made the most of its edge in quickness, said Bengals coach Cathy Szymarek.

"I think my girls were up for it because we kind of made a big deal about playing them," Szymarek said.

Spearheading the uptempo Bengals attack was junior guard Jen Davey, who led all scorers with 20 points. Davey helped Bonanza move the ball upcourt against Green Valley's press, and the Bengals ended up with numerous easy layup chances as a result. The transition game allowed Bonanza to break out of a 35-all tie midway through the third quarter with a 12-0 run capped by a Lyndsay Gensler layup.

Davey also contributed by spreading the ball around, wrapping a slick pass to senior forward Cassie Lee for a layup to help Bonanza push to its largest lead of the game at 54-40 early in the fourth quarter.

"I think the girls did a great job of playing team basketball and moving the ball around," Szymarek said.

Four Bengals scored in double figures, including 14 points from Gensler, 12 from junior forward Mahina Gago, and 10 from Lee. Both Gago and Lee also pulled down nine rebounds.

Szymarek said her defense was also a point of pride, as the Bengals used a collapsing zone to combat their huge size disadvantage, with Gensler as their tallest player at 6-foot-1. That defense held Green Valley 6-3 senior center Jenn Todd to seven points -- just two in the second half -- and four rebounds.

"We did a great job on (Todd)," Szymarek said.

Jabrenta Hubbard scored 16 points to lead Green Valley, and the sophomore guard's lightning-fast drives allowed the Gators to pull back into the game late in the final period. Senior guard Dallas Harris hit a three-pointer, and Hubbard followed with a layup to bring the Gators within six with 1:10 to play.

The Bengals spread the floor and played keep-away for most the final minute, however, to preserve the victory.

For Szymarek, the win against one of the city's better squads is a sweet one for her up-and-coming team.

"It was a good game for us to see where we are and what's going on," Szymarek said.

In other local pool play action at Bonanza, Mojave downed Basic, 47-35; and Western beat Coronado, 67-50. The tournament continues today at both Centennial and Bonanza High Schools.