Valley Rally Goes for Naught Against Sequoias, 67-65

VISALIA â€”  A remarkable comeback was not enough for the Valley College women, who lost, 67-65, to Sequoias in overtime in a semifinal of the state junior college basketball tournament Friday at College of the Sequoias.

The Lady Monarchs overcame a 13-point second-half deficit only to delay the inevitable.

Valley (30-6) trailed, 42-29, early in the second half but held Sequoias (34-3) without a field goal for the first 14 minutes 44 seconds of the second half. Sequoias missed 19 consecutive field-goal attempts during that stretch.

Sequoias will play Golden West for the state championship tonight at 7. Valley was shooting for its second consecutive trip to the title game after finishing second last year to American River.

“I’m disappointed that we lost,� Valley Coach Doug Michelson said. “I’m not disappointed with the way we played. That was the consummate team effort. Every player played their hearts out.�

After falling behind, 42-29, Valley scored 11 consecutive points and completed a 27-8 run to pull ahead, 56-50.

“We just turned the intensity level up a notch,� Michelson said. “We ran kind of a match-up zone and tried to key on their post players.�

Sequoias center Debra Davis (game-high 24 points) finally broke the field-goal drought with 5:16 left with a six-foot jump shot.

Valley scored only two more points in the final 4:54, though, and Sequoias, which had made only four three-point baskets all season, tied the score, 58-58, with 43 seconds remaining on Sandy Lomelino’s three-point shot--her only basket of the game. It was Sequoias’ first three-point basket in 28 games.

After Valley missed a last shot, the teams moved into overtime.

Valley’s Leticia Carranza made a three-point shot to keep the Lady Monarchs within one at 64-63. But Sequoias scored three of the last five points to eke out the win.

Angela Smith led Valley with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Teammates Sandrine Rocher and Sylvia Castaneda each scored 11, and Erika Miller had 10.

Six Valley players fouled out. Two Valley players were taken to the hospital after the game. Castaneda, suffering from dehydration, was taken for precautionary measures. Claudia Rocha was taken to have her injured left hand examined.