KADIR NELSON

The TPHS girls varsity basketball team (10-0), defeated Vista High School (3-7) by a score of 75-32 on Feb. 10, clinching the league championship and paving the way to CIF post-season play.

The whistle blew and Laura Rucks (12) successfully won the tipoff giving the Falcons an advantage to start off with the ball. Seconds later Grace Trusso (11) went in for a layup and scored, with an assist from Rucks. Fouled in the play, Trusso was up for two free throws and made both.

The game continued with the Falcons up 11-0 about 4 minutes into the game. Vista held onto the ball after an unfortunate turnover, then scored a layup for their first basket of the game, bringing the score to 11-2. The pace picked up quickly in the last few minutes of the quarter –the ball repeatedly went back and forth between Lauren Mills (10), who made three 3-pointers in a row, and Rucks with several lay-ups and jump shots. The Falcons were up 18-9 by the end of the first quarter.

Rucks’ outstanding performance in the first quarter continued through the rest of the game. She scored a total of 15 points by the end. Being the only senior on the team, her senior night was everything she could have hoped for, ending with such a resounding win with the teammates she has shared the court with for years.

“I love this team so much, and I think it was so important to finish out on a really good note, and I’m really proud of everyone for how we got to do that,” Rucks said.

Coming out strong in the