Girls basketball bounces back; hopes to clench third CIF banner

With their eye on the prize, the Lady Sundevil basketball team is back in focus to revive themselves from their rough start.

The girls started off Palomar League successful as they won the first league game against RB, 55-41.

The next game wasn’t as successful as they lost to the Poway Titans, 62-47. With revenge in mind, the girls came back full fledge in the next game against the Titans on Feb. 5.

Senior Kelly Hansen and junior Maggie Doremus led their team during the home game to success. Doremus topped the charts with 26 points with Hansen right behind her with 22 points.

“Kelly’s intensity that night was crazy.” senior Jenny Vingerelli said. “Even I was scared of her but she was determined.”

With energy and persistence, the girls wrapped up the night with a dominant 64-44 win over the highly ranked Titans.

The second half of the season has been dramatically better as the games against Torrey Pines, Rancho Bernardo and La Costa Canyon have been victorious.

Against La Costa Canyon, sophomore Alix Johnson scored 23 points.

“We are a very last minute team,” Vingerelli said. “Just like last year we realize d late that we can win later on and go all the way in the second half of the season.”

According to sophomore Kelsey Chesnut, the team’s harder practices have made a significant difference.

“Out practices were more easy going before,” Chesnut said. “Now they are tougher which has helped.”

Along with their success as a team, individual players have been making their mark among the top North County players.

Ranked in the top 10, Hansen has a total of 351 points, averaging about 15 points per game.

“Kelly always encourages everyone around her and keeps us all on task,” Chesnut said.

Doremus holds her spot in the top 20 as a three point leader. Right behind the top five, Chesnut’s contributions include an impressive 80% free throw average.

With their last game against Westview yesterday, the girls are looking forward to CIFs.

“Who wouldn’t want to have a threepeat?” Vingerelli said. “We have the talent to go all the way so all we need to do is concentrate.”

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