Tourney MVP Cooley takes over in final 2 minutes; PC wins Coast Classic

COSTA MESA (12-18-2018) / (UPDATED 12-19-2018) – Imari Cooley, Palomar's 5-foot-8 freshman guard out of Vista Murrieta High School, took control of the game in the final minute and a half on Wednesday evening at Orange Coast College's Basil Peterson Gym and lifted the Comets to the championship of the Erin Tomlinson Coast Christmas Classic.

Cooley was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after the state California Community College Women's Basketball Coaches Association eighth-ranked Comets' 60-57 victory over state No. 19-ranked El Camino College in the championship game after scoring 22 points and going 7-for-8 from the field and 8-for-10 from the free throw line with 14 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocked shots.

Cooley was joined on the all-tournament team by the Comets' Taylor Williams (Mira Mesa High) and Clarissa Taite (also Mira Mesa High).

"It was a gritty game that went back and forth and was sloppy at times, but I am proud of them because we found a way to get it done in a championship setting," coach Leigh Marshall said.

Palomar led most of the way before falling behind 54-53 with just under two minutes to play in the fourth quarter.

Then this happened:

With 1:29 remaining, Cooley rebounded the ball after a 3-point miss by one of her teammates.

With 1:27 left, Cooley scored on a lay-up, was fouled and made the ensuing free throw to complete a traditional 3-point play, putting the Comets ahead 56-54.

With 1:06 left, she blocked a shot and rebounded the ball.

With 27 seconds remaining, Cooley stole the ball, was fouled and made both free throws, giving Palomar a 58-54 lead.

Finally, after Lilly Crabtree (Westview High) rebounded a missed free throw by El Camino with 10 seconds remaining and the Comets ahead 58-57, Cooley was fouled after a timeout and calmly dropped in two more free throws to give Palomar the 60-57 victory.

Also for the Comets, Dee Dee Valenzuela (San Marcos High) scored 12 points and also contributed 6 rebounds, an assist and 2 steals.

Mackenna Gentry (Mt. Carmel High) scored 9 points and dished off 3 assists.

Crabtree contributed 7 points, 2 rebounds and a steal.

And Julie Saelee (Monterey Trails High in Elk Grove, just out of Sacramento) added 7 points.

"Saelee had an amazing tournament for us as well," Marshall added.