Gunn Basketball Teams Advance to CCS Semifinals with Wins Over Mills

Facing Mills for the third time this year, Jackie Evans paced the offense with a season-high 25 points, and the defense held Mills to nine points below their season average, the twentieth time this season they have held an opponent to 35 or fewer points. Thirty-five turnovers by the Vikings contributed to 22 transition points for the Titans, with Tamar Cartun and Jasmine Evans grabbing six and five steals, respectively, and adding five assists each; Jackie Evans converted five transition layups in the game.

The Titan girls scored first on a jumper from Tamar Cartun. After a basket by Mills, Gunn went up by five on a three-pointer from Jasmine Evans and a transition layup by Sophie Shevick. Mills scored again, and Gunn answered with two more layups, from Jackie and Jasmine Evans. Mills sank a three and another basket to pull back to within two before Rimona Cartun scored the last three points of the quarter to put Gunn up 14-9.

Gunn increased its lead in the second with Jackie Evans putting in six of the first eleven points, including another transition layup, a free throw and a three-pointer. Taylor McAdam added a basket from the paint; and Jasmine Evans, Jackie Evans and Tamar Cartun put in three more transition layups. Rachael Clark and Tamar Cartun combined for six free throws as Gunn scored the last ten points of the half. Mills was held to two field goals in the quarter, and the score was 34-15 at halftime.

Gunn pulled away again in the third quarter after the teams played even for the opening minutes of the half on a layup and a jumper from Jasmine Evans followed by four points from the Mills posts. Sophie Shevick added another basket from inside, Jasmine hit her second three of the night, and Jackie poured in six more points. Mills was again held to two field goals in the period, and the teams went to the fourth quarter with Gunn ahead 49-21.

Mills rallied early in the final period, making 13 of the first 17 points of the quarter, including nine points from a single Mills player. But then Gunn shut Mills down for the final minutes and scored the last 15 points of the game, nine of them by Jackie Evans; Marie Volpe, Rimona Cartun, Tamar Cartun, Sophie Shevick and Rachael Clark also scored in the quarter.

Jackie Evans led all scorers with 25 points, followed by Jasmine Evans with 14. Tamar Cartun added eight points, Sophie Shevick and Rachael Clark had six each, and Rimona Cartun had five. Taylor McAdam and Marie Volpe each had two.

Sophie Shevick led the rebounding efforts with six, and Jackie Evans and Taylor McAdam had five each.

Gunn will go up against Presentation for the third time this season in the 7:30 semifinal at Oak Grove High School Tuesday night.