University girls basketball team finishes strong in South Coast Tournament

Foothill’s Karlee Little, right, and Cecie Bain, left goes for a rebound against University’s Ashley Chandler during a girls South Coast Tournament basketball game at University High, Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)Foothill’s Cecie Bain shoots against University during a girls South Coast Tournament basketball game at University High, Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)University’s Ashley Chandler grabs a rebound from Foothill’s Jordan Smith during a girls South Coast Tournament basketball game at University High, Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)Foothill’s Megan Jones drives against University during a girls South Coast Tournament basketball game at University High, Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)University’s Karissa Shin shoots against Foothill during a girls South Coast Tournament basketball game at University High, Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)University’s Malia Goldsmith drives against Foothill during a girls South Coast Tournament basketball game at University High, Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)University’s Neeyaz Cyrus drives against Foothill during a girls South Coast Tournament basketball game at University High, Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)Show Caption of Expand
The University High girls basketball team finished its own tournament strong.
The Trojans won their final three games of the South Coast Classic last week.
Uni (4-1) capped the tournament with two big wins on back-to-back nights at home.
University defeated Foothill, 57-53, on Friday before beating El Dorado, 51-42, on Saturday.
“We didn’t play as well tonight (against El Dorado) as we did last night against Foothill,” Uni coach Nicole Bradshaw said. “But we did what we had to do when it counted and that is why this team is special. We can come at you from all different angles. We have different players step up on different nights. We have all five people on the floor who can score.”
University led nearly the entire against El Dorado. The Trojans didn’t shoot great, but played hard and were scrappy on the defensive end, which impressed their coach.
“I know we are a little tired,” Bradshaw said. “We have basically played four games in a row. We started a little flat tonight, but they all still gave what they had and came through for us. We got it done when we needed to.”
El Dorado tied the game, 28-28, heading into halftime.
But University went on a 12-3 run to start the third quarter and take control.
Malia Goldsmith hit a three-pointer off the bat to put Uni in front.
Neeyaz Cyrus scored six points and Karissa Shin added three points during the run, which gave the Trojans a 40-31 advantage.
University led, 43-36, going into the fourth quarter and never looked back.
El Dorado didn’t get closer than six points the rest of the way.
Goldsmith led the charge for the Trojans with 22 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while Cyrus chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds.
Shin and Ashley Chandler each contributed six points for Uni. Chandler also had eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. And Monique Meriwether was solid on defense with five rebounds and three steals to go along with three points and five rebounds.
“For us to come out of this tournament 3-1 with our only loss to (top-ranked) Mater Dei, I never would have expected that,” Bradshaw said. “I am so proud of all of them.”
All-tournament team
Mater Dei, the top-ranked girls basketball team in the county, took the title of the South Coast Classic at University with a 45-31 victory over Troy on Saturday, Dec. 2.
Ashley Chandler and Malia Goldsmith from University and Erika Maggard from Woodbridge were named to the all-tournament team.
Brooke Demetre and Khylee Pepe of  Mater Dei and Michelle Lee and Anaiyah Tu’ua of Troy, Kenedy Lilly of El Dorado, Asia Avinger and Syndey Gandy of Los Alamitos, Marissa Tanga of Huntington Beach and Haley Ison of Tesoro were also named to the team.
Source: Oc Register