Girls hoops: Valley Vista edges Mtn. Pointe, 69-67

December 2, 2016 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Valley Vista and Mountain Pointe endured their peaks and valleys Friday night, but the fourth quarter is where they collided to go nip-and-tuck to the finish.

Valley Vista's Taylor Chavez sank a three-point shotwith two seconds left to give the visiting Monsoon a 69-67 victory over Mountain Pointe in the best game of the young 6A Conference season.

Chavez, a junior starting for coach Rachel Matakas for the third successive season, made plays on both ends in the final 40 seconds to give Valley Vista the final edge.  Chavez steal at midcourt and subsequent layup with 40 seconds to play gave the Monsoon a 66-65 lead. It would be the second of four lead changes in the final 1:10 of the game.

After Mountain Pointe senior Baily Osmer's determined driving layup 13 seconds later, the Pride put the onus on Valley Vista to answer one more time.

Valley Viista (3-0) overall and 3-0 in power-ranking games) had two options in mind and settled for a perimeter attempt. Chavez was the designee and she found nothing but net with two seconds left. The clock ran out with Mountain Pointe out of  timeouts. Chavez finiished with a game-high 21 points. Clarissa Rodarte was next with 14 and Kiara Edwards, who sat out the first period, chipped in 13 points.

"It was either get it to Kiara and have her go one-on-one inside or go to Taylor and get her open with a double screen," Matakas said. "We got the shot we wanted, and Taylor hit it."

Mountain Pointe coach Justin Hager, beginning his first year guiding the Pride after a long stint at Cibola High, was proud of his team's effort as it builds toward being a player in the 6A chase this season. Mountain Pointe's three losses are to Hamilton, Xavier Prep and Valley Vista.

"It was a fun game, both teams competed at a high level," Hager said. "We've played tough competition early ,and our girls are learning what it takes. I think they'll get the confidence they can play with anybody. We've shown that ability. We got beat by a Division I player hitting a Division I shot. A step-back 3, five feet behind the line."

Mountain Pointe (4-3) overall, 0-2 prg) got off the the best start, grabbing a 17-11 lead after one period behind the triumvirate of Jenise Strover (6 of her team-high 16 points), Myae Mason (5 of her 12 points) and Osmer (4 of her 11). The lead reached 22-13 with 6:13 left in the first half.

At that point Valley Vista kicked in with its pressure and defense to bounce back. Midway through the third period the Monsoon were up 46-35 and threatenig to make it a rout. Three-point shooting by Isela Enriquez (11 points), Kayla Smith (8 points) and Eve Kulovitz ( 7 points) pulled Mountain Pointe within striking distance as the fourth quarter unfolded.

Valley Vista did not play in in an invitational last week as many teams did. They'll play two pretty much back-to-back the final two weeks of this month. The Monsoon have three power-ranking games next week -- two at home against 5A power Mesquite on Tuesday and 6A defending champ Hamilton. on Friday.  Mountain Pointe has games next week with Mountain Ridge and Perry.