By Coach Jess Geeson
The Yucca Valley Lady Trojan basketball season came to a heartbreaking end Wednesday night with a 49-45 loss to the West Covina Bulldogs in a CIF Division 3A playoff quarterfinal game in Trojan Gym.
Leading 27-17 at halftime, the Yucca Valley girls struggled to score in the second half with the defensive adjustments made by the Bulldogs who slowly climbed back into the game and who took a 43-40 lead late in the fourth quarter. Junior guard Sara Mills three-point basket tied the game 43-43 with less than two minutes left in the game but the home team could never regain the lead again.
Mills led the team with 13 points and six assists. Freshman Malia Ulery added 12 points and three steals. Sophomore Chloe McNellie chipped in 11 points while holding West Covina’s leading scorer to 10 points. Senior Coy Smith put up seven points and pulled down nine rebounds.
The Yucca girls finish the season with a 26-5 record to go along with their 14-0 undefeated Desert Valley League championship and the Riverside Poly Tournament title to start the season.
