Sonora in Good Shape When Fister Takes Over

Sonora Coach Rick Albano was approached after his halftime talk by his statistician. The news was disturbing. His two post players, Sarah Fister and Mindy Clark, had only 10 shots between them.

By that time, though, Fister already had decided to take it upon herself to take over the game.

She did. Effortlessly.

Fister scored 13 of her 26 points in the third quarter and Sonora went on to defeat visiting Garden Grove, 62-41, in the first round of the Southern Section Division II-A girls’ basketball playoffs Thursday.

Garden Grove (17-11) finished second in the Garden Grove League. Sonora (17-7), second in the Freeway League, will play Garden Grove League champion Pacifica on Saturday at a site to be determined. Pacifica defeated El Centro Southwest, 76-45.

Fister and Clark finished with 12 rebounds apiece. Clark scored six of her 10 points in the second half on three-of-five shooting.

Fister, a junior, made seven of 11 shots in the second half--six of eight in the third quarter.

Fister and Clark helped put an end to Garden Grove’s comeback hopes, which rested on Robyn Halfhill’s hot hand.

Halfhill was five of six from the field. Averaging 2.9 points per game, she scored six points--all from the baseline--in the final 1:06 to close the deficit to 29-24 after Sonora got lackadaisical with its 29-16 lead.

Garden Grove’s late run surprised Fister. “We slacked off so much,” she said. “Teams can catch up so quickly. People need to realize that. We’re immature.”

Albano was saying the same thing afterward.

“I think we’re underachieving,” he said. “It’s all mental now. I’m trying to get them over that. Games like this will help us get over the hump as a program.”

Fister and Clark were complemented by Lillian Hewko (12 points) and Brandi Davis (11).

Sonora made 25 of 64 shots, Garden Grove was 17 of 54.

Halfhill was the only Argonaut player to break double-digit scoring. She was averaging 2.9 per game. Teammate Katie Werdel struggled. Averaging 11.1 points, Werdel finished with four, and didn’t score after the first quarter.

Garden Grove committed 29 turnovers. The Argonauts shot just 23% (six of 26) in the second half, which coincided with Fister’s hot hand.