Sowers reign supreme

It was a clean sweep last weekend for the Sowers Middle School

girls’ basketball program: the school won tournament championships at

the seventh- and eighth-grade levels.

In the eighth-grade final, Sowers edged Ensign, 22-20, and in the

seventh-grade final, the schools again were pitted against each

other, with Sowers emerging with a 24-20 victory.

Ensign of Newport Beach hosted the tournament finals.

Eighth-grade Division

Sowers 22, Ensign 20

The eighth-grade girls, who also won the championship as

seventh-graders, ran their two-year winning streak to 16 games with

their second consecutive league title.

In last year’s seventh-grade final, the Sowers edged Ensign,

22-20.

The Lady Vikings were clinging to a 22-20 lead in the closing

seconds. Post player Simone Ibbotson blocked an Ensign shot as time

expired.

Ibbotson finished with seven rebounds, four assists, two points

and one steal. Jacque Anderson scored six points and had five

rebounds.

Audra Tamulaitis, a two-time MVP and the Sowers’ all-time scoring

leader, capped her career with a game-high 11 points.

The Sowers advanced to the final, routing TeWinkle, 41-4. Anderson

led the way with 12 points and four assists. Tamulaitis scored 10

points and had eight rebounds, Ibbotson had five points, five

rebounds, three steals and three assists, and Lauren Kaprielian had

five rebounds and five steals.

Seventh-grade Division

Sowers 24, Ensign 20

The Sowers’ speed overcame Ensign’s height advantage, leading to a

division title for the Lady Vikings.

Sixth-grader Kelly Peterson, who scored 14 points in a 45-18

semifinal win over rival Dwyer, gave a 10-point, five-rebound

performance in the final.

Bree Williston, a member of last year’s seventh-grade championship

team as a sixth-grader, finished with six steals, five rebounds and

five assists. Leslie DeJesus scored six points with four rebounds and

three steals, and post player Melissa Boyer, another returner from

last year, scored four points and led with eight rebounds.

Ensign started three players taller than any Lady Viking. Sowers

started one post player (Boyer) and four guards.

The Sowers’ championship victory atoned for a season- opening

30-27 loss to Ensign.