The first game of the 2022-23 girls basketball season ended the same way for Volcano Vista as the last 42 games had: With the Hawks celebrating a win.
Volcano Vista beat Tohatchi 72-43 Tuesday night at home to win its 43rd straight game. The two-time defending state champions haven’t lost a game since March 14, 2020.
The Hawks, who lost three senior starters from last season, opened the game with a 7-0 scoring run and looked poised to cruise to a blowout win. But Tohatchi answered with its own 7-0 burst and hung around until the middle of the second quarter. With about four minutes left and the score tied at 17, the Hawks took off and outscored Tohatchi 21-4 to close the quarter.
Volcano Vista head coach Lisa Villareal, right, looks on during team introductions Tuesday.
“It was a little bit of a slow start but once the girls got going, they really got going,” Volcano Vista head coach Lisa Villareal said.Volcano Vista unleashed its customary full-court press to rack up 20 steals. Many of those turnovers were converted into 3-pointers on the other end as the Hawks pulled out to a 60-31 lead at the end of the third before resting the starters for most of the fourth quarter.
“That’s a plan, it’s to wear down other teams and as long as we can keep up the effort,” Villareal said. “That’s all I can ask for.”
Sophomore Taejhuan Hill led the Hawks with 18 points and senior Mari Manzanares added 14 points, 10 assists and seven steals. Sophomore guard Mila Espinoza scored 13 points and hit three 3-pointers.“These girls really work hard,” Villareal said. “They put in a lot of work and extra time on their own. We just need more time to play together.”
Volcano Vista’s Mila Espinoza spots up to shoot a 3 during Tuesday’s game.
