Wolf Pack’s stellar season comes to close in playoff loss

By Bill Dickens
Updated: February 27, 2016

By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com

ENCINITAS — When senior point guard VIVIAN PANELA went down with an ankle sprain midway through the third quarter of the San Diego CIF Division I quarterfinal, the visiting West Hills Wolf Pack were in trouble.

“We were up 33-30 halfway through the third when Panela went down with an ankle,” said West Hills coach RYAN KINSER. “The momentum of the game changed and we never could recover.”

The Pack (20-8) continued to scramble in the second half but failed to provide a bona fide challenge as the Mavericks (22-6) outscored West Hills 32-19.

The La Costa Canyon 53-44 victory snapped the Wolf Pack’s 3-game win streak, eliminating West Hills from post season play. The Wolf Pack led 25-21 at halftime.

“We started off well, got off to an 8-0 start,” said West Hills coach RYAN KINSER. “We fell behind in the second, got in foul trouble and sent them to the line, but we made a nice recovery and went to the locker room with a 4 point lead.”

MEGAN SCOTT led the Wolf Pack with a game-high 17 points in her final game for West Hills. West Hills did a fine job stopping LCC star Cassie Amundsen, but three other Lady Mavs combined for 38 points.

“The girls played hard and I’m proud of their effort,” Kinser noted. “I think if Panela doesn’t get hurt it’s a different story.”

It was also the final Wolf Pack game for other members of the senior-laden roster, including MAYA CLEMONS, JESSICA FONDAS-RYAN and CARLY RALEY.