The Jackrabbits are fast.

They're physical.

Down nine after a quick Long Beach Poly 7-0 run to start the third, the Fighting Irish took a moment to regroup.

Coach Brian Harrigan had told them this would happen and they would have to stop it to stay alive.

So senior guard Tierra Rogers and junior guard Ki-shawna Moore took over the game and, with a big third quarter push, guided the two-time defending California Division III champions over the second-ranked Jackrabbits, 74-58.

"It feels really good" said Rogers, who was named the tournament MVP.

"Everbody's been talking Long Beach Poly this, Long Beach Poly that. They're No. 2 in the nation, so we had to prove ourselves."

In the other Saturday games, host Southridge won the third-place game against Prairie, 44-30. In the fifth-place game, Highlands Ranch beat Central Catholic 63-52. In the seventh-place game, Beaverton beat South Eugene 51-43.

"I'd watched them all tournament," Harrigan said. "People would play them close and (Long Beach Poly) would blow them out in the third quarter. I told my kids this game was going to get away from us if they didn't pick it up. And, you know, they picked it up."

And just as quickly as it started, things went downhill for Long Beach Poly. Oliver and Dixon got into foul trouble. They each sat for a while and when they were on the floor, they didn't attack with their typical ferociousness.

"When both our bigs got in foul trouble, it took away our scoring," Long Beach Poly coach Carl Buggs said. "We had to work too hard for shots and just kind of played into their hands."

So Rogers, who led all scorers with 25, started a comeback and then some. The tournament MVP had 10 points in the third quarter and senior teammate Jazmine Jackson hit five of six from the line. Jackson finished with 15 points, while Moore had 18.

In a foul-heavy fourth, the Jackrabbits couldn't stop the bleeding long enough to catch up, letting Sacred Heart charge ahead without looking back.

The Fighting Irish, who had just 13 team fouls during the entire game, made 27 of 37 attempts from the free-throw line. Twenty-four of those were shot by Jackson (10), Moore (6) and Rogers (6).

"We're a good program," Harrigan said. "Hopefully we showed that to a lot of people this weekend."

While Long Beach Poly remains one of the favorites at the first session of the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix, Ariz., they won't get a rematch when the tournament begins December 19. The Fighting Irish don't travel to Phoenix until the second session, which begins December 27.

Tierra Rogers, Sacred Heart (MVP)
Jasmine Dixon, Long Beach Poly
Alyssa Fressle, Highlands Ranch
Ashley Corral, Prairie
Michelle Jenkins, Southridge
Kate Lanz, Central Catholic
Ki-shawna Moore, Sacred Heart

NW Nike Post-Championship Audio
Third Place: Tate, for the Defense
Tierra Rogers Evaluation (Platinum)

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