By Coach Jess Geeson
The Yucca Valley High School Lady Trojan basketball team clinched the Desert Valley League championship Tuesday night with a thrilling 68-66 victory over the Twentynine Palms Wildcats in Trojan Gym.
Trailing 31-23 at halftime, the Yucca Valley girls scored the first eight points of the third quarter to tie the score and set the stage for a exciting back-and-forth quarter. In the third quarter the Lady Trojans trailed by eight points then pulled ahead 44-36 only to end up trailing the Wildcats 47-49 at the end of the quarter.
Junior Sara Mills was held scoreless in the first quarter but still finished with a game-high 22 points along with five 3-point baskets. Freshman Malia Ulery hit three 3-point baskets and finished with 16 points. Sophomore Maliah Rodriguez scored 10 points, including a go-ahead three-point basket with 31 seconds left in the game. Sophomore Chloe McNellie tallied eight points; senior Coy Smith pulled down 14 rebounds to go along with her six points.
The team finishes its regular season on Thursday by hosting Indio High School for Senior Night. Game time is 6 p.m. with the senior ceremony at halftime. CIF playoffs for the Desert Valley League champs begin next Thursday.
