GRIZZLY SOPHOMORE WYATT ELLIS POLISHES OFF A FAST-BREAK IN TUESDAY NIGHT’S WIN OVER WATERFORD’S WILDCATS. GAZETTE PHOTO BY DAN TUCKER To call Tuesday evening’s junior varisty basketball game a “laugher” would be an understatement. Mariposa rolled to its 10th straight Southern Athletic League win without a defeat in beating Waterford’s Wildcats by 51 points, 77-26.

Even though head JV coach Mark Abney tried to slow the pace, the Grizzlies owned the court and scored almost at will.

“I tried to get our guys to slow down and pass the ball, but they were leaving us wide open under the basket, and I told them if they give us a lay-up, take it,” Abney said.

The game was a blowout as early as the first quarter as the Grizzlies vaulted to a 23- 8 lead. The second period was a mirror image of the first as Mariposa poured through another 23 points and allowed Waterford just 10 for a 46-18 bulge at the intermission.

For the Wildcats, it got worse in the third quarter. Mariposa bucketed 24 points and held the the visitors to just 3 to lead 70-21 going into the last 8 minutes.

Sophomore Wyatt Ellis paced Mariposa with 16 points, 10 rebounds, a bundle of steals, and 9 assists. Quinn Chaney dumped through 15 points and Jimmy Neri added 14 in the rout.

With wins last week over Delhi and Le Grand, Mariposa boosted its record to 20- 2 on the season.

Against Delhi last Saturday, Mariposa posted a 46-33 win in the fourth meeting between the two teams. “This was a pretty defensive game,” said Abney. Neri erupted for 22 points and pulled down 11 caroms while Chaney bucketed 11.

Last Friday against Le Grand, the Grizzlies prevailed, 63-41. Neri led all scorers with 21 points. Garhett Bauer hit for 8 points and had a big game on the boards, hauling in 12 rebounds. Ellis pulled down 11 boards.

Mariposa hosts Delhi, in their fifth meeting this season, on Friday in an SAL tilt beginning at 6 p.m.