Meadows Gives Lift to Valencia

Stamina has been a problem for Marissa Meadows since she rejoined the Valencia High girls’ basketball team two weeks ago.

Six months of inactivity because of a torn knee ligament can do that.

But Meadows was at her best in the second half of the Vikings’ 54-49 nonleague victory over Oxnard on Tuesday night at Oxnard.

“I’m finally getting my endurance back,” said the 6-foot senior, who scored 15 of her 17 points after halftime.

Meadows, who injured her right knee in June and had surgery in July, also had 12 rebounds.

Oxnard (1-4), ranked seventh in the region by The Times after defeating Mater Dei and losing to powers Woodbridge, J.W. North and Norco in the Woodbridge tournament, sprinted to a 16-9 first-quarter lead, but Valencia (5-1) answered with a 17-2 blitz in the second for a 26-18 halftime lead.

Meadows took care of the rest, making seven of 12 second-half shots, including a layup with 1:16 left after the Yellowjackets closed to within 49-46.

“Without her, I don’t know if we beat a team like that,” Coach Jerry Mike said.

Stacie Locke came off the bench to score 10 points, Stephanie Patterson had eight and Mandi Singleton added seven points for Valencia, defending Foothill League champion.

Sienna Abraham scored 14 points--including four three-point baskets--and Jacqui Heck and Tiffany Walker each added 13 for Oxnard, which made only 15 of 59 shots.

Valencia’s reserves outscored Oxnard’s, 14-1.