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Sports

Santa Cruz Wins Overtime Thriller in Tournament Finale

Pappas and Claussen pace the Cardinals in defeating Soquel for share of league title heading into playoffs.

Seniors Ashely Clausen and Pauli Pappas have been doing it all season for the Cardinals. The duo combined for all 13 of Santa Cruz’s overtime points as they dispatched Soquel; a team that beat them at home by 11 points to win the league title last week in Santa Cruz.

There was one difference, however. Soquel was without star player, Ragine Graves, who was out of state at a volleyball clinic.

“I think it made a difference," said Pappas. "I mean, she scored 27 [points] last time. But their team did fine without her. We wanted it that much more.”

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Soquel, which lost the SCAAL tournament final in overtime for the second consecutive year, was led by Tyler Stewart with 13 points and Tori McBride with 12. 

After an exciting back-and-forth first quarter, Soquel led 15-13 in a game that maintained an incredible pace and timely shooting by both teams.

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Santa Cruz pulled ahead in the second quarter and took a seven point lead into halftime, increasing the margin to 10 in the third before Soquel tightened up the score. 

Claussen struggled shooting the ball in the third before hitting a jumper as the quarter expired, giving the Cardinals a five-point lead.

The fourth quarter saw more impressive play as Santa Cruz hustled for loose balls and Soquel hit key shots, particularly from beyond the three point line. 

Pappas, who scored 20 points behind an outstanding first half, fouled out in overtime but not before trading three pointers with Soquel’s Madison Rocha and making two free throws. 

Pappas was visibly upset after fouling out but came off the floor to loud cheers from the fans and encouragement from her coaches and teammates.  

“It’s fun to play with her because she knows where I am, I know where she is,” said Claussen, “We always keep each other up.”

With Pappas out of the game, Claussen took over. She hit the first four points in overtime but missed two free throws, the second of which she out-rebounded four Soquel players and got fouled in the process. 

The second time at the line, Claussen iced the game, cooly sinking both shots.

“She’s fighting off frustration and knowing she’s gotta lead the team,” said coach Patrick Jones of Claussen. “I thought she did a really great job. We had three freshman on the court there in overtime after Pauli [Pappas] fouled out so we really needed that senior leadership.”

Claussen said the next game for the Cardinals will be in Santa Clara but the opponent is not yet known.

“Tomorrow we’ll find out where we’re seeded and we’ll be playing sometime next week,” said Jones.

Community Television of Santa Cruz County broadcast the game locally. Replays can be seen on Comcast channel 25, Charter channel 71 and AT&T channel 99 Sundays at 7 p.m. or at www.communitytv.org on demand.

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