January 21, 2012

LADY MAVS HANG ON

Madison staves off MacArthur rally for 50-45 victory

by Mark Kusenberger

SAsports.com Senior Writer

The Madison Mavericks completed a season sweep on the MacArthur Brahmas with a 50-45 victory Saturday morning at Littleton Gymnasium. 

MacArthur made them sweat it out though.  Madison built the lead as high as 29-11 in the second quarter, then had to hang on for dear victory. 

Madison led 15-4 after one quarter, and built the lead as high as 29-11.  Briana Jones and Monica Perez each contributed 10 points as Madison took a 33-20 lead to the locker room.

Madison still led 38-24 with 5:26 left in the third, but then the rally began.  MacArthur closed the quarter on a 10-3, then scored first four points of the fourth quarter.  Helped by Jacqueline Esquivel’s eight third quarter points, MacArthur cut the lead to 41-38. 

Although Madison could never quite shake the Brahmas, they never let MacArthur closer the rest of the game.  Although Esquivel was held scoreless in the fourth quarter, six other Brahmas – eight girls suited up for MacArthur – combined for MacArthur’s 11 points.  Six of the points came from MacArthur’s 6-of-8 free throw shooting for the quarter. 

Jones scored seven of Madison’s nine fourth quarter points to protect the Mavericks lead down the stretch. 

Jones finished with a game-high 21 points, making 7 of her 11 free throw attempts for the game.  Amy Saucedo led the Brahmas with 14 points, hitting 7 of her 10 free throws attempts for the game.

Each team was whistled for 19 fouls during the games.  Ten Mavericks and eight Brahmas participated in the contest. 

With the victory, Madison pulls into a tie for third place with Johnson and closes in on a playoff berth.  Madison (18-11, 5-3 in 26-5A) is now three games ahead of Roosevelt (2-6) and MacArthur (1-6) in the loss column with four games remaining. 

Quarters

MacARTHUR4161411-45

MADISON   1518 8 9 -50

MacARTHUR SCORING: Amy Saucedo 14, Jacqueline Esquivel 13, Angelica Fernandez 7, Desiray Davis 4, Jazmine Ontiveros 3, Miranda Arrellano 2, Kiana Garner 2, Brianne Ford

MADISON SCORING: Briana Jones 21, Bianca Buruato 12, Monica Perez 11, Ashton Gulczewski 7, Genevieve Morales 4, Briana Alcibar 3, Samantha Free 2, Brittney Scott, Beatrice Resendiz, Kianna Andrews