SPRING VALLEY – Upset-minded El Capitan was determined to neutralize Mount Miguel's potent inside game in last night's Division III girls basketball semifinal between Grossmont Conference rivals.
The visiting Vaqueros enjoyed moderate success with that part of their game plan. What took them by surprise with how well Mount Miguel shot from the perimeter.
Sophomore guard Nicole “Coco” Fountain hit four consecutive three-pointers in the second quarter helping the top-seeded Matadors break away for a convincing 56-34 victory.
Mount Miguel (20-4), which has won 11 straight and 13 of its last 14, meets Cathedral Catholic tomorrow at Cox Arena in a rematch of last year's Division III final.
Fountain finished with 17 points, the majority coming on her 5-for-10 shooting from beyond the arc.
“That girl was hot tonight,” said Matadors senior post Autumn Spikes, who had 14 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. “She hit all those shots at the right time, turned the game our way.”
Fountain came in averaging about one three-point bucket per game. The gusher she hit against El Capitan (22-8) was a career high.
“I've been trying to pick it up on offense more,” Fountain said. “I was pretty pumped up, excited about this game. I was surprised that after I hit a three in the first quarter that they didn't come out on me more.”
As a team, Mount Miguel clicked on 8-of-18 three-point attempts. Junior point guard Danesia Williamson, the Matadors' ace three-point marksman, was 3-for-7 from long distance. She has 52 three-pointers for the season.
“When I can hit like I did tonight, it helps take some pressure off Danesia,” Fountain said.
Williamson topped all scorers with 19 points and handed out five assists. Her focus, she said, was on defense in general and stopping guard Ashley Duffy in particular.
“We figured if we could contain Duffy, they would have no game,” said Williamson, who was hampered by a leg cramp. Shateara Anderson helped guard Duffy, who hit just 7-of-34 shots for 16 points.
“I don't think (El Capitan) has faced a team with as much quickness as we have,” said Mount Miguel coach Robbie Sandoval.
The Matadors opened up a 34-12 lead by halftime and never looked back.
