Best of the West was easily the best of the day

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You would be hard-pressed to find a better day of basketball action than that played Friday at Ayala in the Best of the West girls’ basketball tournament.

One quarterfinal went to overtime, another went to double overtime, a third game was decided on a three-point basket with four seconds remaining, and the fourth game was an upset of Lynwood.

Wow!

That will set up today’s semifinal games between No. 2 Miller (8-1) vs. Bishop Montgomery (10-3), 6:30 p.m., and No. 7 Muir (9-0) vs. No. 4 Ayala (11-2), 8 p.m.

-- Image from www.britsattheirbest.com

The thumbnail versions of what went down:

Second-ranked Miller beat No. 24 Bishop Amat because Tamicka Mackall hit a three-pointer from the corner with four seconds to go, giving the Rebels a 54-52 victory over the previously undefeated Lancers.

Rheina Ale scored 30 for Bishop Montgomery in a 62-47 victory over No. 8 Lynwood, a team that beat Montgomery earlier this season, 45-35.

Lightly regarded Chrishawn Frierson made a three-point basket with 25 seconds remaining in the second overtime to give No. 7 Muir a 54-51 victory over No. 14 Magnolia.

Rhema Gardner was injured earlier in the game, but re-entered for overtime and scored five of her 21 points right off the bat to give No. 4 Ayala an 85-76 victory over No. 15 Perris.

I know there were some great games and upsets at the Orange County Championships on Thursday, but have to believe that the quarterfinals Friday at Ayala trumped the quarterfinals at the OCCs.

The undercards won’t be bad Saturday, either: Bishop Amat vs. Lynwood, and Magnolia vs. Perris.

There’s still Saturday and Monday remaining in the holiday tournament season to try to one-up Friday’s play. If it does, someone will need a defibrillator before it’s over.

-- Martin Henderson