Grand Terrace, CA—For the Yellowjacket players, for their coaches, for their school, for the Colton community, this was the game.
Colton vs. Grand Terrace.
CIF quarterfinal matchup. Win or go home.
For the first time in either school’s history in any sport, Colton and Grand Terrace faced each other in a CIF playoff game. A school rivalry with the highest stakes.
And the Yellowjackets celebrated on Grand Terrace’s court after a dominant second half performance propelled them to a blowout 58-38 victory over the Titans.
Call it the Valentine’s Day Massacre because the Yellowjackets spent their night breaking hearts.
“This was not the same squad that I started the season with,” said head coach Keisha Young. “This is not even the same squad I won the league championship with. They have leveled up.”
The way the Yellowjackets played in this game proved the coach’s point. Against Grand Terrace, they played with a chemistry not seen this season, showing patience on the offensive end and getting everyone involved. Three players scored in double figures, and seven players total scored.
Savannah Govea grabbed the reins and led her team in this game, scoring 11 points and nabbing 7 steals. All game, she faced a tough trapping press defense from the Titans, but she stayed focused and in the second half found the way to break the press, opening the floor for her teammates to run up the score.
Off the bench, Colton got some huge games from Lia Vellanoweth, who led Colton with 13 points, and Zoey Espino, who scored all 11 of her points in the second half.
But the biggest contribution may have come from a big. Mayra Morales had her number called in the second half, and she left her mark on the game, scoring 7 points and grabbing 4 rebounds. When she came in the game in the third quarter, Colton was hanging on to a 31-30 lead, and by the end of the quarter they were up 41-31.
“I just tried my best during the game,” Morales said. “I knew we needed a big impact towards the end of the last two quarters, so I just came in confident and was ready to ball.”
With this victory, Colton is now in the CIF Division 5AA Final Four. Their next opponent will be the 21-5 La Mirada Matadores. Colton will receive the home game, so the two will tip off at the Hubbs Gym at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17.
