BASKETBALL WOMEN’S STATE JUNIOR COLLEGE PLAYOFFS : Big Effort From Rush Lifts Valley Into Final 8

Tisa Rush scored 32 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Valley College women to a 66-57 win over Cerritos on Saturday and into the final eight of the state junior college tournament.

Valley, the tournament’s second-seeded team, will play its next game Thursday at Valley.

Rush opened the playoffs with 27 points Wednesday night against Southwestern, and she scored Valley’s final 11 points Saturday.

Valley (30-4) led by as many as 18 points, but Cerritos (25-7), the No. 7-seeded team, scored 10 points in a row to close the gap to eight with 3 1/2 minutes remaining.

“I didn’t like the way we let them back into the game in the last six minutes,” Valley Coach Doug Michelson said. “But we’re playing well in February, and that’s the key.”

Roz Linton had 10 points and 16 rebounds for Valley, and Katina Mines added eight points and 12 rebounds.

Valley’s Sylvia Castaneda, playing on a sprained right ankle, had two points and five assists.