WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL PLAYOFFS : Mines and Mendez Lead Valley to 81-72 Win Over Trade Tech

As familiar as the Valley College women’s basketball team is to playoff competition, there is something about the start of postseason play that seems to bring out career-type performances by the Monarch players.

L.A. Trade Tech discovered as much Wednesday as Valley opened the 16-team Southern California regional tournament with a convincing 81-72 victory at home.

For second-seeded Valley (29-4), which is seeking its fifth trip to the state final four in as many years, guards Katina Mines and Rosa Mendez turned in a pair of dazzling individual outings.

“We knew we had to come out strong tonight,” said Mendez, a 5-foot-7 freshman who scored a team-high 23 points and added nine assists. “We looked for the hot shooter and got them the ball.”

Mines, a returning all-conference player, was among the hottest. The 5-9 sophomore scored 19 points and grabbed a head-spinning 18 rebounds in her best game of the season.

“She’s definitely turning it up a notch,” said Valley Coach Doug Michelson, whose team will play host to Harbor in a second-round game on Saturday. “We’re playing very well right now.”

The play of Mines and Mendez compensated for an equally impressive one-player show by Trade Tech guard Carla Gladden, who led all players with 33 points.

Gladden, a former Morningside High star, led her team on a second-half comeback in which 15th-seeded Trade Tech (18-6) closed to within 59-52 midway through the second half.

But Valley, which also received 13 points from forward Wendy Bruse, kept finding ways to stop the Trade Tech scoring runs with some fast-paced offense.

“Valley is a good, sound team and they know what they want to do,” Trade Tech Coach Richard Wells said. “Every time we got right up there they were able to answer.”

Luscinda Silva came off the bench to score eight points for Valley and center Stacie Toon added seven.

Valley hit 32 of 74 shots from the floor. The Monarchs also totaled 49 rebounds.