Peterson, Matadors best Webb, Crusaders
- Updated: December 9, 2018
EastCountySports.com staff report
SPRING VALLEY – The Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders feature a top county player of the year candidate in senior Chloe Webb.
The Mount Miguel Matadors feature their own superstar in sophomore SYLENA PETERSON.
Peterson could be on equal terms with any other top player in the county based on the start of her 2018-19 season.
And the Matador guard showed an under-appreciated aspect of her complete game on Saturday night, burying 14-of-15 free throws on her way to 26 points in Mount Miguel’s 67-63 win over the visiting Crusaders.
“I didn’t know how many I scored, but I’m definitly looking to attack the basket,” Peterson said.
The game was a matchup of two of the top teams in the county, as the sixth-ranked and likely-rising Matadors continue to take all comers.
Third-ranked Mater Dei trailed 39-32 at halftime but rallied to tie the game at 47-all midway through the third quarter.
It’s getting heated in the Matador dome, Mount Miguel up 31-25 5:34 2nd half. @areacodes @EC_Preps_SD @SDCountyHoops pic.twitter.com/CQ3JVnstdM
— BIGCITYHOOPS-GIRLS BBALL (@1Roundball) December 8, 2018
Mount Miguel, however, re-established the lead by the end of the quarter, taking a 54-49 advantage into the fourth.
Still, the Crusaders trailed just 61-58 with three minutes left in the game.
Senior LALLI GURROLA had three three-pointers in the contest on the way to 13 points.
The Matadors built a 27-17 lead on the strength of their pressure defense.
“Mater Dei is a good team and Chloe Webb is an outstanding player,” SANDOVAL said. “We did a good job defensively defending her. We made her work extremely hard. You could kind of tell during the game she got a bit winded.”
Webb still finished with 23 points.
Senior TIAJA BENNETT had 10 points, four rebounds, four assists and five steals for the Matadors.
“We didn’t really box out and rebound how we are supposed to,” Bennett said. “We will make sure that everyone puts a body on someone so we give the team only one chance to score.”
Senior DEYONNA MCBRIDE had a great performance with five points, seven rebounds
Senior MICHELLE CORLEY had five points and three steals for the Matadors.
“They all contributed in their own way,” Sandoval said of his entire squad.
Junior Marissa Sanchez, another highly-rated player, added 20 points for Mater Dei.
“We got up on (Mater Dei) a couple of times and let them back in the game. We have to find that instinct to put games away,” Sandoval said.
“We have to figure that out, especially against really good teams.
“Our defense wasn’t as good as it has been. We got into an up-and-down game and we don’t usually give up more than 60 points.
“They also killed us on the offensive glass, so that is something we’ll have to work on.”
Peterson added eight steals and four assists.
“We could’ve been a little better on defense but that’s something we always look to improve on,” Peterson said. “We made a few mistakes in the game that could’ve made the difference.”
