From Saturday, Dec. 28 to Monday, Dec. 30, Newark Memorial High School became the center of attention for local girls basketball, hosting an exciting three-day tournament: Newark Optimist Girls Basketball Tournament. This tournament featured both Junior Varsity and Varsity and brought together talented athletes and competitive teams, showcasing their skill, effort and passion.
The first two days of the tournament consisted of pool play while the last day was bracket play, which was single elimination. For the Junior Varsity tournament, the championship game was played between Valley Christian and Clayton Valley. The path to the finals was not easy for either team. Valley Christian beat Mission San Jose and Foothill, while Clayton Valley beat Irvington and tournament hosts, Newark Memorial.
The JV championship game started very one-sided, with Clayton Valley taking an early lead. With a back-and-forth second quarter, Valley Christian was able to cut the lead to 17-13 at halftime. Jordan Grove led Clayton Valley’s scoring with seven first-half points. For Valley Christian, it was Taylor Vinson who kept them in the game with six points. In the third quarter, Clayton Valley’s defense came to life, getting many steals and points on fast breaks. Fortunately for Valley Christian, they closed the quarter off strong, cutting the lead to five.
In the fourth quarter, Valley Christian made a remarkable comeback. Key defensive stops and clutch baskets allowed them to take their first lead, 29-27, with just over a minute remaining. Their defense held strong, securing a come-from-behind championship victory for Valley Christian.
Tiffany Johnson and Jaya Mamea both won awards for Valley Christian, while Jordan Grove and Cami Ryan were recognized for Clayton Valley. When asked about the game, Valley Christian’s head coach, Ashley Marquez, had nothing but good things to say. She said her team was extremely resilient and coachable. She added that there was “lots of positive energy on the court.” She specifically highlighted Gianelle Loo, the MVP of the game, as a player who “led the team, commanded the court and had great leadership.”
For the Varsity tournament, the championship game was between Newark Memorial and Arroyo Grande High School. To advance to the finals, Newark Memorial defeated Terra Linda and Foothill High Schools. On the other side, Arroyo Grande defeated Aragon and Lynbrook High Schools to advance to the finals. In the first quarter, Arroyo Grande got off to a hot start, going on an 8-0 run. The domination continued throughout the quarter, with the score being 18-3 at the end of quarter one. The reason for this domination was Arroyo Grande’s full-court press defense. More often than not, Newark Memorial was unable to get past halfcourt.
This trend continued through the second quarter, with Arroyo Grande continuing to build on their lead. Newark Memorial started to show signs of getting their offense going; however, at halftime, the score was 35-10. The top scorer for Arroyo Grande was Sophia Robertson with nine first-half points. In the third quarter, Arroyo Grande switched from their full-court defense to a more conservative half-court defense. Although the aggression was toned down, the defensive effort by Arroyo Grande was still very evident, holding Newark Memorial scoreless in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Arroyo Grande was able to get multiple steals and rebounds, chewing the clock and taking down tournament hosts, Newark Memorial, with a dominant 58-14 performance. The leading scorer in the game was Arroyo Grande’s Diane Sorrondo with eleven points. For Newark Memorial, it was Juliana Barbosa who led the scoring with four points. When asked about his team’s dominant performance, Arroyo Grande’s head coach, Tim Cramer, said “the championship game was when everything came together. We played our best basketball.” He specifically highlighted game MVP, Kinzie Amer, as a player who set the standard for everyone around her. Coach Cramer stated, “she set the offense, had excellent passing, was great in help defense, and was able to get many rebounds.”
The Newark Memorial girls’ basketball tournament was a celebration of talent, determination and sportsmanship, highlighted by thrilling games and standout performances at both the Junior Varsity and Varsity levels. Valley Christian’s resilience and clutch play secured them the Junior Varsity trophy, while Arroyo Grande’s dominance and teamwork earned them the Varsity crown. Both championship games not only captured the excitement of high school basketball, but also showcased the dedication and heart of the players. This tournament was more than a competition—it was an opportunity for young athletes to shine on a big stage and take away lessons that would go far beyond the final buzzer.
For more on the Newark girls basketball team, visit https://www.maxpreps.com/ca/newark/newark-memorial-cougars/basketball/girls/
