Girls’ 3-A Semifinal : Monte Vista Rolls, 64-50

Monte Vista girls’ basketball Coach Manny Silva is a man of his word. Just ask his star guard, Paula Mascari.

“Ever since I’ve played here, (Silva) told me that one day before I graduated, we’d make it to the Sports Arena,” said Mascari.

Silva, with considerable help from Mascari and the rest of the Monarchs, kept his word Saturday night, as Monte Vista rolled to a 64-50 win over Madison in the 3-A girls’ semifinal playoffs at Mira Mesa High. Next Saturday, the Monarchs (25-2) will meet top-ranked and heavily favored Point Loma in the 3-A final at the Sports Arena.

Madison (15-7) quickly jumped to an early 4-0 lead and dominated Monte Vista in the opening minutes. The Monarchs soon regrouped, however, scoring 10 unanswered points. By the end of the period, Monte Vista led ahead 20-11, and the Warhawks never got closer than 8 points.

“In the beginning we were shaken up a bit by (Madison’s) press,” said Mascari, who led the Monarchs with 22 points. “But then we got our composure back and slowed things up. From there it was all ours.”

Madison scored nine successive points to close the gap to 32-24, but again still couldn’t play consistently, turning the ball over a number of times.

The Warhawks started the second half with the same enthusiasm they had early in the game, and outscored the Monarchs 12-10 in the third period. Madison, however, still trailed 49-36 after three periods.

Madison’s Lisa Glassford led all scorers with 27 points. Mascari was 8-of-8 from the foul line.