SOPHOMORE AMBER WANNER DUCKS A DEFENDER DURING THE JUNIOR VARSITY GRIZZLIES’ BIG WIN OVER DENAIR ON TUESDAY NIGHT. THE JV SQUAD IS NOW 9-1 IN SAL PLAY. GAZETTE PHOTO BY JILL BALLINGER Tears dotted the lockerroom floor last Thursday after Mariposa’s JV girls’ basketball team dropped its first Southern Athletic League tilt of the season to Le Grand, 29-28, in overtime.

The young Lady Grizzlies rebounded Monday evening by throttling Denair’s Coyotes, 29-11. That win moved them to 9-1 in SAL action

In Monday’s contest, veteran coach Loyd Hobby started the five players that attended last Friday’s practice, following the demoralizing loss to Le Grand. That move led to a 8-4 Mariposa advantage at the half.

In the second half, Mariposa dominated the court with its regular starters.

For the game, Amber Augustine paced the Grizzlies with 11 points. Kiely Johnson bucketed 10, and Nicole Wanner added 4.

In the overtime loss to Le Grand, regulation play ended deadlocked at 23-23.

Free throws spelled the difference in the extra period, and Mariposa’s inability to score at the charity stripe led to its first league loss.

Although there wasn’t a single foul whistled in the entire first half, there were 13 called in the overtime. The Lady Grizzlies hit just 2 of 9 free throws in the extra period.

Mariposa will play at Delhi on Thursday evening to open its third round of SAL play. It will host Waterford next Monday.