The562’s middle school sports coverage is sponsored by the Long Beach Century Club
It was a pattern at this year’s middle school girls’ basketball championships that the games all came down to the final minutes of the fourth quarter. That’s exactly what happened in the final game of the afternoon, as the IVA Foxes defeated the Cubberley Cubs 31-30 to capture the All-City Girls’ Basketball Division 3 Championship.
“I feel like when we kept up our intensity the whole time, even when we felt like they were pulling away, we were able to dig deep and do what we needed to do,” said Cubberley coach Simone Gallimore.
IVA started the game off well, with Mayumi Frausto nailing a step-back three to get the Foxes on the board.
The 6th grader had a team-high 11 points to go along with her 9 steals.
“She just comes out with confidence,” said Gallimore. “She’s a natural leader on the court”.
The score was tight at the end of the first, with IVA leading 8-6.
Defensive stops seemed to be the theme of the night for the Foxes, as they opened the second quarter with three consecutive steals.
However, the game’s momentum began to shift as Cubberley found their footing offensively.
They were led by 8th grader Jane McDonald, who scored 8 out of her team’s 10 points in the second quarter to give Cubberley a 16-15 lead at the half.
McDonald had a game-high 17 points to go along with her 3 blocks and 6 rebounds.
Both teams battled back and forth all game, continuously trading buckets with one another.
Starting the quarter strong once again, IVA began with a steal and assist by Mayumi Frausto to Clare Matthias to open the third, but Cubberley quickly responded with a basket from Arriana Rocha.
The crowd’s energy spilled onto the court, fueling an increasingly physical game that led to technical fouls on both sides.
“This whole season, we’ve just come out and competed every single game,” said Gallimore. “We have heart, we have drive, and we’re scrappy”.
Cubberley began to find their groove, ending the third on a 7-0 run, leading 24-21.
All game long, IVA began each quarter strong, and the fourth quarter was no exception, with a steal from Frausto and a layup from Drew Thomas-Brooks to open the quarter and tie the score once again.
Catalina Mendoza’s putback put the Cubs up by one with three minutes left, but a huge three-pointer from IVA’s Yohanda Barber put the Foxes up by two, 31-29, with 30 seconds remaining.
Cubberley had two chances to win the game at the free throw line in the last 20 seconds, but ultimately came up short, as the IVA Foxes were able to hold on for their gritty 31-30 victory.
“We wanted to win so bad, and all the girls pushed so hard. I’m just so appreciative and proud of everything this team has done,” said Coach Gallimore.
