WARRIOR CLASSIC: Inside punch powers Legacy to tourney title

Legacy’s Latia Matthews is “trying to own” the paint every time she steps on the basketball court.

The senior center seemed to have a monopoly on it Saturday.

Matthews had 13 points, 16 rebounds and two blocks to lead the Longhorns to a 50-34 victory over Coronado in the championship game of the Warrior Classic at Western.

“I just had to get in position and be strong, like coach teaches us every day in practice,” Matthews said. “It’s nothing different. We’ve got to play big down there.”

Matthews had a three-point play, a block and an assist in the final minute of the third quarter to help Legacy (5-0) build a 37-22 lead. The Longhorns never relinquished momentum.

Matthews was named tournament Most Valuable Player after scoring eight points in a 59-29 rout of Durango and nine points in a 63-36 win over Cimarron-Memorial in Saturday’s semifinals.

Senior forward Makayla Hicks supported Matthews with 11 points and six rebounds in the title game.

“I think it’s going to be a nice one-two punch with the post players,” Legacy coach Tiffany Richardson said. “If (Matthews) misses a shot, Hicks is cleaning up the boards and vice versa.”

Legacy guard Shakita Cox received all-tournament honors after scoring nine points in the title game.

The Longhorns held the Cougars (4-1) to single-digit scoring in each of the first three quarters. Matthews credited the team’s communication on defense.

“We were talking and doing everything we needed to do,” she said. “We had to be there for each other in help-side defense.”

Nicole Ruffino scored 12 points and Amanda Decker dished out four assists for Coronado. Both players were named to the all-tournament team.

Cimarron’s Traci Parks and Foothill’s Bri Higgins rounded out the all-tournament team.
 

Foothill 56, Las Vegas 46 — Bri Higgins had 10 of her game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter to help the Falcons defeat the Wildcats.

Cheryl Harless added 11 points for Foothill.

Breanna Melton led Las Vegas with 12 points.

Legacy 59, Durango 29 — Cox scored 21 points to help the Longhorns down the Trailblazers.

Candice McFarland added 10 points for Legacy.

Marley Sandoval led Durango with 10 points.

Durango 67, Desert Pines 33 — Amanda Boucher scored 17 points to help the Trailblazers defeat the Jaguars.

Tiarra Beville and Cindy Klinhom each added 13 points for Durango.

Legacy 63, Cimarron-Memorial 36 — Cox had 17 points as the Longhorns topped the Spartans.

Hicks added 10 points for Legacy.

Tyler Simpson led Cimarron with 10 points.

Foothill 69, Cimarron-Memorial 36 — Higgins had 16 points as the Falcons rolled past the Spartans.

Julie Harless added 13 points for Foothill.

Parks paced Cimarron with 16 points.

Cimarron-Memorial 63, Desert Pines 26 — Parks scored 19 points, and Leilani Blanco and Ashley Oswald each added 13 to help the Spartans rout the Jaguars.

Desert Pines 59, Del Sol 51 — Jazzimine Avalos had 17 points as the Jaguars held off the Dragons.

TaQuiyyah Boyles added 16 points for Desert Pines.

Desiree Orozco had 13 points, and Melissa DeSantiago contributed 10 for Del Sol.

Las Vegas 61, Durango 57 — Shomari Harris scored 17 points, including four free throws in the final 30 seconds, to help the Wildcats edge the Trailblazers.

Shauntovia Luckie scored 17 points for Las Vegas, and teammate Matti Ventling added 12 points.

Beville led Durango with 23 points, 19 rebounds and four steals. Boucher supplied 11 points and five rebounds for the Trailblazers.

Las Vegas 58, Del Sol 34 — Matti Ventling scored 13 points to lift the Wildcats past the Dragons.

Coronado 51, Del Sol 9 — Ruffino scored 11 points to lead the Cougars by the Dragons.

Twelve players scored for Coronado, which held Del Sol scoreless in the first and fourth quarters.

Coronado 43, Foothill 38 — Sofie Cruz had 12 points, six rebounds and three steals to help the Cougars hold off the Falcons.

Higgins led Foothill with nine points.

Western 64, Spring Valley 36 — Brandi Jackson had 22 points as the Warriors routed the Grizzlies.

Naz Lockett added 20 points for Western, which stormed to a 38-18 halftime lead.

Western 56, Spring Valley 32 — Jackson scored 17 points, and Mylasia Smith added 12 points to lead the Warriors past the Grizzlies.

Shauna Patterson paced Spring Valley with 16 points.