MidValleySports.Com

There was virtually no stopping La Salle’s Kandyce Smith when her team needed an answer the most.

The stocky, but fleetingly versatile junior guard, who would finish with 28 points and earn all-tournament MVP honors, worked a breathtaking performance to outscore opposing Moorpark 23-22 herself in the second half, and, with blistering defense from CK (Caroline Knop), Dionna Williams delivering three crucial putbacks, and timely perimeter success by B-Rod (Brianna Rodriguez), the Lancers (10-3) prevailed to win the New Year’s Ball championship at La Cañada over a solid Moorpark (10-2) team.

CK and B-Rod were named to the all-tournament team, along with Moorpark’s Kira Cosworth and Britney Dixon-Bell.

The first half opened up sloppily as the squads traded cold bouts and shot dismally percentage-wise from the field.

Cosworth nailed two threes in the first and led the Musketeers with 13 points. Other scorers that had put up big double digit efforts in prior games were held to singles, including Dixon-Bell (2), Paige Peel (2), Paige Sullivan (6), and Leah Daley (9).

La Cañada 53, Village Christian 34 — The host Spartans snapped a three game skid in its own event and nearly doubled up the Crusaders with a brisk 30-16 second half to deal itself a comfortable win.

Courtney Chen (13), Keilee Bessho (12), Alyssa Miller (9), and Lauren Barsamian (8) all led the way for LC (7-7).

VCS (8-8) fell for the fourth game in a row and was led in scoring by Sam Pyros with 15 points. Aubrey Pyburn was limited to six.

Golden Valley 57, Flintridge Sacred Heart 45 — Golden Valley (6-7) trailed from the start up til early in the fourth quarter when it sprung a 9-0 run to wrangle the lead away from FSHA (9-6) for good and earn its third consecutive win.

Courtney Maduike sped in a season high 22 points to lead the Grizzlies, who were carried along as well by Mariah Madison (11) and Ashley Oliver (13).

Jenna Tran and Dana Budzyn scored eight apiece while the Tologs’ scoring leader was Casey Johnson with 14.

Arcadia 54, Hart 41 — Arcadia (10-2) dug deep at the charity stripe during the second half and went 16 for 19 on free throws to help stave off a hard fought effort by Hart (4-8).

Mel Chang hit four treys and ten second-half free throws en route to a game high 24 points for the Apaches, who set the tone early on with Julie Aguirre (13) pounding the low post and baseline for 10 points in the opening half.

Breze Kimble bucketed 12, Cyndi King added 10 for the Indians, who received eight points each from Nikki Aganian and Kailie Kennedy in the loss.

Royal 65, Pasadena Poly 63 — Bri Reser (15) picked off the ball from Poly and ran it out to seal victory for the Highlanders (6-9), who were led in points by Sabrina Wiseman with 26. Brooke Zamora added 13.

Kiki Yang rebounded, stole, and scored consistently again for Poly (10-5) and was back to form after a lackluster night on Friday. Yang hit five three-pointers and tallied up 28 points. Cathy Lehman followed with 15. Kaitlyn Olah had 9.