Girls Basketball Hits Jackpot Before Vegas Tournament

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Gianna Chaisson

The Malibu High School (MHS) girls basketball team is taking its undefeated hoops act to Las Vegas next week. 

The Sharks are one of 20 teams playing in the 2015 Gator Winter Classic at Green Valley High in Henderson, Nevada from Dec. 26-30

Shark point guard Gianna Chaisson said that she and her teammates are ready to participate in the four-day event.

“I’m really looking forward to playing teams outside of our league and us playing well,” said Malibu’s leading scorer, averaging 10 points per contest. 

The Malibu squad will tip off tourney action on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. when they play the Rancho Rams. 

Coach Andy Meyer said his squad is ready for the trip before the defense of their Frontier League title begins in 2016. 

“I think it will be tough competition,” Meyer said. “That is what you want before you start league.” 

Malibu heads into the classic with a 5-0 record. The unblemished record features wins against defending CIF Division IV champion Bishop Diego, Pilgrim, San Gabriel Valley Academy, Albert Einstein Academy and Frontier League opponent Fillmore. 

The Sharks have won each of the games by at least 23 points, except the season’s first.

Chaisson said the senior-laden Sharks have great chemistry. 

“The way we pass the ball on the court is so much better coming from where we started freshman year,” Chaisson explained. “We know how to balance off of each other. We go into every game knowing we can win. Freshman year, we really didn’t know what was happening.” 

Four of Malibu’s wins came while on the way to winning the Battle by the Beach tournament at MHS. The Sharks won the Dec. 7-10 tournament for the second consecutive season. Malibu beat Pilgrim in the tourney-opener, 47-16, followed by San Gabriel Valley, 54-22. The Sharks beat Albert Einstein Academy, 46-21, before defeating Fillmore in the championship game, 48-25. 

Meyer said grabbing the Battle by the Beach crown this season trumps last season’s title win. 

“We had a tougher road to get to the championship,” he said. “We just played very well, which is really nice to see at the start of the year.” 

Senior forward Nina Hungerland scored 16 points in the title match and won tournament MVP. 

Meyer said Hungerland had a great tournament. 

“She passed, she rebounded, she blocked shots,” he said of the player, averaging nine points, almost 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocks per contest. 

Senior center Sara Joshi and Chaisson were named to the All-Tournament Team, along with Hungerland.

The 5-foot-11 Joshi led the Sharks with 14 points in their win over San Gabriel, and Chaisson’s 11 points led Malibu in their win over Pilgrim.

Other big Shark performances were Ari Ross’ 10 points against Pilgrim, Senior Ana Cervantes 11 rebounds, and Alana Baer’s seven points and eight rebounds against San Gabriel Valley.

Malibu opened season by beating Santa Barbara-based Bishop Diego, 30-25, on Dec. 1.

Chaisson said the Sharks were a little nervous before the game against the defending state champs, but got over the feeling when the game started. 

“We just had confidence in each other and played the game,” she said. “Our defensive press went well and the whole vibe was good.” 

Meyer said Malibu has had a great start to the season, despite the knee injuries to key contributors Baer and Kendall Jordan. The All-League center Jordan has yet to take the floor for the Sharks. 

“We aren’t at full strength, but being undefeated is a great way to start the season,” Meyer said. “The players have pulled together and stepped up their games.” 

Meyer said the Sharks aren’t at their peak yet.

“They are just doing things very well,” he said. “They are passing the ball well, defending well. We are going to better as the year goes on.” 

Malibu will be in the Gator Winter Classic’s A pool. Along with the Rams, other pool opposition is the Silverado Skyhawks and White Pine Bobcats. 

Meyer said he hopes Jordan will play some in the tournament. 

In past seasons, the Sharks have played in a Christmas tournament in Catalina, but they wanted a change this season, the coach said. 

“The girls are really excited about it,” he said. “Just driving up there with the girls; they will have a good time doing that.”

Chaisson said the team hopes to see some sights and score a lot of baskets. 

“Las Vegas is so different and exciting to go to,” she said.