When a bunch of defending- and potential-state champions gather in one tournament it's difficult to know who the winner will be. Such was the case for  the 3rd annual Lady X Basketball Tournament at Red Mountain High School this weekend.

It boiled down to the healthiest and most complete rosters in a skirmish Saturday afternoon between #4 Valley Vista and #3 Mesquite with Mesquite rallying from 13 points down in the first half to post a 50-48 win over Valley Vista. Mesquite junior guard Shaylee Gonzales led all scorers in the championship game with 18 points and was all over the floor as she has since been since her career began two years ago. She was chosen the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Utah transfer Lauren Gustin (also chosen to the all-tournament team) broke a 46-46 tie with a basket in the paint and her free throw (worth two points with three minutes to play) proved the difference for Mesquite. Mesquite coach Candice Gonzales said Gustin's arrival gives her squad the "missing piece" lacking since the most of the girls began playing together in sixth-/seventh grade.

Mesquite trailed 23-10 after the first 12 minutes of the first half before gradually catching up late in the first half. Mesquite took its first lead with 11 minutes to play on a three-point shot by Haley Walker.

Prior to that Valley Vista controlled the game led by junior Taylor Chavez. Chavez exited with 16 points with 15:53 to play when she came down hard on her lower back. Chavez did not return. When Chavez left Valley Vista was up by eight. The lead shriveled to 39-35 with 12:05 to go. Five minutes later an 11-2 run by Mesquite had the Wildcats up 46-41. The injuy to Chavez helped Mesquite's cause and it took advantage. Valley Vista lost a starter from last year in its late Friday game (Clarissa Rodarte) to an ankle sprain and saw post Kiara Edwards injure a shoulder with about six minutes to play via another hard fall. She returned for the final couple of minutes.

"We didn't play smart at the beginning of the game," Mesquite coach Candice Gonzales said. "The key to our success is our hustle. If we sit back and wait to see what the other team is doing, we're in trouble. We got some momentum back, and the fast breaks they were getting early were the fast breaks we got near the end."

Despite the loss in the title game, Valley Vista was as impressive as any team in the field. Chavez and Edwards were selected to the all-tournament team and transfer Lauryn Satterwhite looked sharp manning the point for the Monsoon. Guard Terrysha Banner also played well, netting 14 points in the title game. Coach Rachel Matakas has the ingredients to reach the top of 6A come this winter.

Joining Gonzales, Gustin, Chavez and Edwards on the all-tournament team were Seton Catholic's Sarah Barcello and Gilbert's Hanna Cavinder. Seton took third place knocking off Gilbert, 47-35. Final records for the teams in the tournament: Mesquite 4-0, Valley Vista 3-1, Valley Christian 3-1, Seton 2-2, Gilbert 2-2, Red Mountain 1-3, Hamilton 1-3 and Sierra Linda 0-4.