Fipps gives Apaches run for their money

Badgers put away Sanger early for playoff win

Mike Hackworth

(Updated: Thursday, March 04, 2010, 12:00 AM)

Averaging a little more than 12 minutes playing time per game, Yosemite's Sydnee Fipps has been making the most of it.

Fipps scored 20 of her 29 points before halftime and knocked down six 3-pointers.

She was unstoppable and the No. 2 seeded Yosemite's 31-point halftime lead held up in an 62-29 win against the No. 10 seeded Sanger Apaches in the second round of the girls basketball Central Section Division II playoffs Friday.

In four of the last five games, the 5-10 junior has averaged 22 points in the first half of play. Her season average is 24.9 points per game.

The Lady Badgers ran away from the Apaches 21-0 to start the game.

Sanger was held scoreless until 1:31 remained in the first quarter. Sanger post Brittany Long, with 10 points and nine rebounds, scored the first points of the game for Sanger, followed by Fipps, scoring the the next seven on a pair of three-foot jumpers and a 3-pointer.

Yosemite built a 44-8 lead before Sanger was able to score in the second quarter. Seven of those points came by way of Yosemite junior guard Alex Long's three steals, all of which she converted into fast break field goals and a free throw, to boot.

After the Lady Badgers carried a 45-14 lead into the intermission, Yosemite coach Gary Blate made wholesale substitutions for the rest of the game.

Fipps and point guard Jenay Herring had encore appearances early in the third quarter, scoring nine and eight points respectively.

The Yosemite bench defense were nearly as stingy as the starters, holding Sanger to 15-second half points.

Herring had 12 points, six assists and five steals in limited action for the Badgers.

Sienna Gonzales and Amanda Rudd scored seven points each, with Gonzales pulling down five rebounds and capturing three steals. Rudd added six boards for Yosemite.

From the Bench

Friday night marked the 23rd consecutive game this season that Gonzales connected on at least one 3-point basket.

The 5-foot-7-inch senior guard leads the Lady Badgers with 76 3-pointers this season. Fipps is second with 71 treys this season.

The 29 points scored by Sanger were the fewest points surrendered by Yosemite in a playoff game since the Lady Badgers defeated Dinuba 71-28 on Feb. 22, 2008.

The victory marked 191 wins for Gary Blate as head coach.

Yosemite 62, Sanger 29

Sanger (14-12) 8 6 6 9 -- 29

Yosemite (28-2) 23 22 17 0 -- 62

Y: Sienna Gonzales 7, Jenay Herring 12, Alex Long 7, Sydnee Fipps 29, Amanda Rudd 7. S: Sabrina Santos 5, Taylor Sullivan 5, Amanda Alba 7, Samantha Montelongo 10, Vinae Delaforre 2.