Sports

Early Outburst, Relentless Defense Help Dixon Girls Keep Pace in Title Race

Del Mugnaio's 14 points key Rams to lopsided Golden Empire League hoop win

Dixon High's girls basketball team held Mesa Verde scoreless while jumping to a 13-point lead after one quarter on Tuesday night.

Then, the Rams really started to have their way with the Mavericks.

Sam Del Mugnaio scored 11 first-half points and an oppressive, trapping Dixon defense overwhelmed Mesa Verde, 48-12, in Golden Empire League action.

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The victory over the Citrus Heights-based foe improves Dixon to 7-2 in the GEL, keeping pace with first-place West Campus (7-1) and Capital Christian, of Sacramento, (6-2). Those two teams met in Sacramento on Tuesday night.

"I was really happy with how our defense played tonight," said Dixon head coach Mike Barrett after the impressive win that took place in front a tiny crowd in the Rams' home gymnasium. "We did a good job of getting into the passing lanes."

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Based on the size of the tiny crowd, it seems that Dixon basketball fans are missing the best show in town.

Dixon forced nine Mesa Verde turnovers in the first eight minutes of play to grab a 13-0 lead after a quarter.

Senior Kaylyn Borelli grabbed a defensive rebound, then wound up scoring to give Dixon its initial hoop. A shot clock violation and then a bad pass, both resulting from Dixon's stifling defense, set up a free throw by senior guard Laura Garcia and a set shot from the free throw line by senior Melissa Immel.

"We really played defense hard for a long time on each possession," Barrett said. "The shot clock was consistently getting down under 10 seconds, so we were really battling."

Immel stole a pass in the post to set up a basket by sophomore Carlene Dyer to up the Dixon lead to 7-0 with 3 minutes, 52 seconds left in the first period.

Del Mugnaio, a sophomore wing player, grabbed a rebound and drained the first of her two 3-pointers to expand the lead. Borelli stole a pass seconds later and Del Mugnaio hit another from beyond the arc to account for the 13-0 lead.

"Last time we played them we gave up about 30 points," Barrett said, recalling a 65-22 victory at Mesa Verde. "This time we had to play defense longer each possession and we held them down."

Mesa Verde outscored Dixon 6-2 to open the second quarter, but the Rams responded with a game-ending outburst.

Two free throws and a corner jump shot by senior guard Marisa Vela gave Dixon a 19-6 edge. Senior Sophie Kroll's free throws made it 21-6 with 2:28 left before halftime.

Del Mugnaio capped the 12-0 burst.

She scored off of a fastbreak started by a Madison Dwelley steal. Del Mugnaio followed with a basket from the baseline after a Miranda Williams rebound. Dwelley, another sophomore, stole a second pass and found Del Mugnaio who scored to increase the advantage to 27-6.

Dyer finished with eight points for Dixon, which finishes the GEL campaign Thursday at home against Marysville (1-7 GEL) at 6:30 p.m.

Kroll had six, including a baseline jump shot that came just seconds after she took an elbow flush to the face and was knocked to the floor in the fourth quarter. Vela scored five points.

Since even a win by West Campus on Tuesday would steal leave Dixon within reach of tying for the league title, Thursday's finale has meaning for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoff-bound Rams.

"We dominated both the teams we play this week when we played them the first time," Barrett said. "As a team, we're completely focused on preparing for the section playoffs. Winning the league championship really is out of our control."

Mesa Verde fell to 1-8 in league and 3-19 overall.

Dixon JV 53, Mesa Verde 30: Gina Garcia scored 12 points as the Rams improved to 9-0 in their race to the GEL championship.


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