Farmington girls take Marv Sanders Invitational

By Truman Begaye
Special to the Times

FARMINGTON – The Farmington Lady Scorpions extended their winning streak to seven games after defeating the Volcano Vista Lady Hawks, 48-39, to claim the 2024 Marv Sanders Memorial Invitational title in Farmington on Saturday evening.

Junior guard Kjani Anitielu, who played the entire game without substitution, scored 16 points, including 7 during a crucial second-quarter turnaround. Caris Dale contributed 14 points to the Scorpions’ victory. Senior guard Aaliyah Archuleta, normally a key scorer, was held to just 5 points, all of which came in the fourth quarter.

The game opened with a dominant first quarter for Volcano Vista, highlighted by four early 3-pointers from three different players, including two from junior guard Mia Zuniga.

Zuniga led the Hawks’ offense with 8 points in the opening period and finished with 13 overall. Senior guard Mila Espinoza and junior guard Jalysa Hines also contributed, helping the Hawks tally 16 points in the first quarter. The Scorpions responded with a lone three-pointer by junior forward Chenoa Parrish and 4 points from junior guard Caris Dale.

Momentum shifted in the second quarter as the Scorpions found their offensive rhythm. Anitielu led the charge with 7 points, while Dale added 5, and Parrish contributed 4. Farmington outscored Volcano Vista 16-9 in the quarter, taking a narrow 27-25 lead into halftime. The Hawks’ offense, led by Espinoza, was limited to just 9 points in the quarter.

The Hawks struggled offensively in the second half, managing only 7 points in the third quarter. Zuniga hit a 3-pointer and added two free throws to lead the Hawks with 5 points in the period, while Garcia added 2 points.

Meanwhile, Farmington’s defense tightened, and their offense extended the lead. Dale scored 5 points in the quarter, and contributions from Thomas, Anitielu, and junior guard Ziondra Leupp added 12 points. By the end of the third quarter, the Scorpions held a 39-32 lead.

The final quarter solidified the Scorpions’ victory as their defense once again held Volcano Vista to just 7 points. Espinoza led the Hawks with 5 points, while Zavala and Hines each added a point each from the free-throw line.

On offense, Anitielu scored 4 points for Farmington, and Archuleta nailed a three-pointer and went a perfect 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. Archuleta’s late-game contributions helped close out the scoring, securing the 48-39 victory for the Scorpions.

After the game, Anitielu, who is averaging 12.8 points per game this season, reflected on the team’s strategy. “I think defense is gonna win us most of the games because we lost a lot of good scorers, so we’re really focused on defense this year,” she said.

Farmington head coach Thomas Adair praised both Anitielu and Parrish for their leadership and impact. “They’re both returning starters, and they understand what it’s all about,” he said. “They’re both good leaders, but they’re also excellent athletes.”