GIRLS BASKETBALL: Terra Nova Streaks into CCS

The Score: Terra Nova 62, Mills 45.

The Star: Tigers junior Ivonne CookTaylor was close to unstoppable as both a scorer and rebounder in leading her team to its third straight Peninsula Athletic League tournament championship at Burlingame High on Saturday night. The smooth wing scored a season-high 24 points and hauled in 10 rebounds, most of which came as Terra Nova pulled away in the final period.

The Turning Point: The first three minutes of the fourth quarter. Mills entered the final period leading 42-41 and gunning for an upset, but then the Vikings promptly committed five turnovers and missed three straight shots. Terra Nova’s Terilyn Moe drilled a 3-pointer and then rolled in a floater while getting fouled to spark a 10-0 run that proved decisive.

The Quote: “We’re the underdog. … All the WCAL teams, they look down on us, like we’re a joke.” – Terra Nova’s Terilyn Moe, on the motivation her team will take into the Central Coast Section Division III playoffs, which have been dominated by West Catholic Athletic League powerhouses since the mid-1990’s.

What’s Next? Terra Nova (23-4) enters the CCS Division III playoffs on a 17-game winning streak. Coach Kareem Summerville believes his team will earn the No. 2 seed. The brackets will be announced this afternoon.

The Bottom Line: Terra Nova, the No. 3 team in , remains the class of the PAL. No. 6 Mills has played the Tigers tougher than any other league team, largely because the Vikings (17-8) find a way to make life difficult for Terilyn Moe. Moe, however, managed 22 points despite her 6-of-23 night from the floor. Terra Nova held the Vikings to 2-of-17 shooting in the second half after the Tigers trailed 34-26 at the break. Terra Nova has been prepping all year for a run at its first CCS crown since 1997 – including playing a brutal non-league schedule. Injured starter Jayzyl Tauala (ankle) is expected back at the start of the week – which would leave the Tigers at full strength at just the right time.

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Terra Nova 62, Mills 45

M – 15 19 8 3 – 45

TN – 14 12 15 21 – 62

M: Lastofka 3 5-8 11, Sui 2 2-3 7, Chin 2 1-2 5, Delbianco 5 0-0 11, Chierici 4 2-6 11. Totals: 16 10-19 45.

TN: CookTaylor 10 4-7 24, Alapati 2 0-0 5, Elliot Tufuno 2 0-0 6, Moe 6 9-12 22, Afoa 1 0-0 2, Dawson 1 1-2 3. Totals: 22 14-21 62.

3-point goals: M: Sui, Delbianco, Chierici. TN: Elliot Tufuno 2, Alapati, Moe.

Records: Mills 17-8. Terra Nova 23-4.