Little Loibl plays big for Cougars in win over Valhalla

By Bill Dickens
Updated: January 23, 2016

Steele Canyon's Jules Loibl goes up for a shot against visiting Valhalla Friday night. / photo by Don De Mars Photography

2015-16 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL

By Bill Dickens

EastCountySports.com

SPRING VALLEY – It was Pink Out night at Steele Canyon in Friday’s (Jan. 22) Grossmont Valley League showdown with Valhalla.

Valhalla’s Alexa Somo puts up a shot Friday night against Steele Canyon.

More than just donning everything in pink – pins, suckers, cookies, balloons – the Cougars turned out the lights on the Norsemen to earn a front-running 2-0 record in the GVL race.

JULES LOIBL, a 5-foot-4 senior guard, continues to play bigger than she is, registering a team best 15 points to go along with 7 rebounds and 2 steals in a 43-35 win over visiting Valhalla

“Physically I think I’m bigger than I play,” Loibl said.

Assistant coach PAULA (MASCARI) BOTT, who was an outstanding long range shooter at Monte Vista and the University of San Diego a few years back, agrees with Loibl’s assessment. “One thing she could do to improve her game is not bomb away from the outside, but take the ball to the hoop. She has really improved her game.”

“I like a challenge, whether it’s inside or outside,” Loibl noted.

ASHLEY TAVIZON added 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals for the Cougars (12-4 overall).

TIANA SILVER paced the Norsemen with 18 points, and MOLLY LINDSAY hauled down a game best 14 rebounds.

Molly Lindsay, of Valhalla, defends against Steele Canyon on Friday night.

The game was tied at 27-all late in the third quarter. That’s when the Cougars took charge on a corner jumper by KYLIE MINSHEW. Back to back buckets by Loibl and Tavizon extended Steele Canyon’s advantage to 33-27 by the end of the third quarter.

After that Steele Canyon continued to pull away.

Steele Canyon: Jules Loibl 15 (7 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl), Ashley Tavizon 14 (6 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl), Mariah Smith 4 (4 reb, 3 stl, 1 blk), Kylie Minshew 4 (3 reb), Marie Estavillo 4 (1 reb, 1 stl), Marianna Martinez 3 (6 reb, 2 ast), Elizabeth Bott 1 (1 ast), Mya Cross (3 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk).

Valhalla: Tiana Silver 18 (3 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl), Melanie Yousif 6 (4 reb, 2 stl), Molly Lindsay 4 (14 reb, 1 ast), Marissa Asker 3, Alexa Somo 2 (3 reb, 1 stl), Bianca Gorges 2 (4 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl), Lisa Damman (1 reb, 1 stl).