Sonora Can’t Pass the Marina Test

Sonora should take note of Wednesday’s passing clinic at the Marina High gym. After all, the Raiders got a good look at it.

Third-ranked Marina, consistently making the extra pass to shoot from two feet instead of six, scored an 80-60 nonleague girls’ basketball victory over Sonora behind Karyn Fierst’s 21 points and Nikki Lee’s 15.

Sonora (5-5), working to become a top-10 program, stepped up its schedule this season to include Mater Dei (a 58-50 winner on Monday) and Marina.

And in seeing Marina’s performance, the Raiders should take note.

Marina scored at least 20 points in each of the first three quarters, and though Sonora got four three-point baskets from Brandi Davis in the first quarter to hang tough, 23-20, the Raiders couldn’t keep up with Fierst driving to the basket (three three-point plays) or the spiffy passing that got the Vikings a little closer or a little more open.

Chanda McLeod, Marina’s leading scorer this season, scored 12.

“When everybody gets involved,” McLeod said, “we’re pretty much unbeatable. We always look to make the extra pass.”

Contrast that with Sonora’s Sarah Fister, who battled McLeod and was held to eight points and five rebounds.

“We play too much as individuals,” Fister said. “We aren’t patient enough and we take [the shot on] our first look.”

In the decisive second and third quarters, Sonora made only five of 21 shots, committed 14 turnovers and had its 23-20 deficit stretch to 63-40 going into the fourth.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” said Davis, a sophomore who scored a game-high 24. She made five three-point baskets (out of eight shots) during an eight-for-21 night from the field. However, she lost her rhythm after her 14-point first quarter, making only one of 11 shots in the middle quarters.

Sonora made 21 of 50 shots.

Transition killed the Raiders, who committed 22 turnovers. Marina shot 50% (31 of 62), and dominated the boards, 47-31, despite a height disadvantage. McLeod (17 rebounds), a 5-foot-11 senior forward, had more rebounds at halftime (14) than Sonora (11).

Mindy Clark, Sonora’s 6-4 junior center, had 17 points and five rebounds. Lee, Marina’s 5-11 forward, had 10 rebounds.

“This was our best team effort of the season,” Fierst said. “We’re getting used to each other.”

Lee, McLeod and Miranda Emde (nine points) are still trying to find their basketball legs after a long volleyball season.

Sonora is just trying to find its legs, period.

“Playing these teams is just going to help our program,” Fister said. “We can play with these girls, but it’s a team game.”

In another nonleague game:

Rosary 68, Calvary Chapel 52--Romina Bollini’s 16 points and 10 rebounds led Rosary (4-3) at home. Rosary had four other players score in double figures, including Jennifer Farner (14) and Maggie Barnett (12). Cathy Joens scored 18 for Calvary Chapel, which was outscored, 17-6, in the decisive third quarter.

In the Jim Hill Memorial Tournament:

Mission Viejo 41, Orange 39--Erin O’Donnell (16 points) and Lindsey Eichler made key free throws in the final seconds to secure the victory for the Diablos (2-7). Randi Perry scored 21 for Orange (5-4).