Lady Dawg Bernice Fiso #33 controls the opening tip, setting the tone for the game. The Dawgs pulled down 43 boards led by Fiso’s 10, winning easily 51-26. Photo by Lou Martin

The Virgin Valley High School lady basketball team easily defeated an outmanned and undersized Western High School Warrior 51-26 in the Dawg House Wednesday night, Feb. 15. The win moves the Bulldogs into today’s semi-final against Desert Pines. The Jaguars defeated Boulder City 31-25 in their quarter-finals game setting up today’s game which will be played at Sunrise High School at 3 p.m. A Bulldog win today moves the Dawgs to the championship game on Saturday at 4 p.m.

The Bulldog/Warrior game was decided minutes into the game. The Dawgs led 18-5 after one period of play. Brianna Todd led the assault with 8 points and the Bulldog press did the rest shutting down the poor shooting Warriors. Emma Barnum took over the scoring load in the second period with 7 points building a 33-10 lead for the Dawgs midway through the period. Bulldog coach Chimane Creer pulled her starters allowing the Warriors to creep back into the game 33-16 at the break.

Bernice Fiso made her presence known with 6 points in the third period upping the Dawgs lead to 43-41. The Bulldogs reserves finished the game as the Dawgs won easily 51-26.

Barnum led all scorers with 15 points followed by Todd with 13 points. The Bulldogs, outrebounded the Warriors 43-29, led by Fiso with 10 boards.

“We wanted to come out aggressive and set the tone pf the game,” said Coach Creer. “I knew it could get sloppy tonight so my goal was to make sure none of the girls would get hurt.”

The Bulldogs will need to keep Jaguar Trish Butler in check in today’s game. The Dawgs will need to keep See’Airrah Evans- Collins off the boards to ensure the win. Collins had 13 boards in the Jaguars win over the Eagles.