Delta eliminates Merced College women from regionals

BY SEAN LYNCH

slynch@mercedsunstar.com

STOCKTON — San Joaquin Delta made it clear that Sonji Green wasn't going to beat it on Wednesday night.

The Mustangs swarmed the Merced College sophomore center any time the ball swung to her side of the court.

It was a total team effort as the Mustangs sagged off of the rest of the Lady Devils, daring them to knock down shots. MC wasn't up to the task shooting just 20 for 77. Delta took advantage, piecing together the game's only real run before halftime and riding that double-digit lead to a 60-49 victory in the quarterfinals of the NorCal Regional Tournament.

"The effort was there," MC head coach Allen Huddleston said. "I thought we did a good job defensively, getting ourselves enough stops to get back in the game.

"We gave a tremendous effort on the offensive glass to give ourselves more opportunities. But the thing about basketball is, it doesn't matter how well you're playing, you have to score. We didn't finish consistently enough to win tonight."

Neither team was putting together much offense early on as the referees allowed the two teams to get after it physically. The defensive nature of the game seemed to favor MC (21-10) as it held a 19-17 lead with just over five minutes to play in the first half.

The Lady Devils began to tire, however, in the last five minutes.

MC admirably fought through a short bench all season, but Delta's depth exposed them in a flurry to close the half.

Marshanique Hall (game-high 18 points) was the catalyst for the Mustangs (26-5), scoring seven points in the last three and half minutes as Delta went into intermission up 36-24 thanks to a on a 19-5 run.

"We were doing OK in man-to-man, but it was when we went to zone that killed us," said Green, who finished her Lady Devil career with nine points and 16 rebounds. "It was all the switching that started to tire us out.

"Then all of a sudden we're getting beaten in transition and that's what started their run."

Huddleston knew his team needed an early response in the second half to get their confidence back up, and he got the response he was looking for on the defensive end.

Delta was only able to get off seven shots in the first seven minutes of the second half, but the Lady Devils failed to cut into the lead. Even 15 second-half offensive rebounds made little difference as MC shot just 10 for 45 after the break.

"It can be hit or miss with us shooting sometimes," said Madeline Diamante, who finished with nine points. "Honestly, we just didn't execute what we were supposed to do coming in. We didn't skip passes. We forced things we didn't have to, and we rushed shots when we were open.

"Delta did a better job and deserved to win."

The Mustangs' depth wore the Devils down from there. Delta got 35 points from its bench, never allowing MC back within nine points the rest of the way.

"It was a very physical game, and they were able to throw a few extra bodies at us," Huddleston said. "They just keep coming at you, and it eventually wore us down.

"It's a testament to them. We did a great job limiting two of their best scorers, and then somebody else steps up and goes off."

Sun-Star staff reporter Sean Lynch can be reached at (209) 385-2476 or slynch@mercedsunstar.com.