Irvine Valley's women's basketball team reached the finals of the Lady Gaucho Classic last weekend at Saddleback.
The Lasers, ranked fifth in the preseason coaches' poll in Southern California, defeated Cuesta in its opening game Thursday by 53 points and topped San Joaquin Delta, 67-63, in a battle in the semifinals on Friday.
IVC fell to Scottsdale of Arizona, 52-43, in the final on Saturday.
Irvine Valley handed Delta its first loss of the season on Friday. Delta was ranked No. 2 in Northern California in the preseason coaches' poll.
There were 11 ties and 23 lead changes in the hard-fought game.
Four Lasers scored in double figures in the victory. Freshman forward Kydell Pearson had her best game of the season so far, finishing with 16 points and eight rebounds.
Freshman forward Kasey Smit had 12 points and eight rebounds, sophomore guard Tara Casey added 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists, sophomore guard Jordan Coleman had 10 points and sophomore forward Morgan Bryant contributed eight points and eight rebounds.
Irvine Valley out-rebounded Delta, 52-37, in the contest.
The Lasers also shot well. They shot 48.1 percent (25 of 52) from the field as a team for the game. Delta shot 29.9 percent (23 of 77). The Mustangs also went just 21.1 percent (8 of 38) from three-point range.
Irvine Valley out-scored Delta, 34-18, in the paint.
The Lasers gave it their all, but came up short in the title game on Saturday.
Irvine Valley led, 21-20, at the half, but Scottsdale out-scored the Lasers, 32-22, in the second half.
Scottsdale shot 41.9 percent (18 of 43) to just 26.7 percent (12 of 45) for IVC in the game.
Casey finished with 16 points and six rebounds and Coleman had 12 points, four assists and three steals for IVC in the defeat.
Irvine Valley gets a little bit of a break before its next games. The Lasers don't play again until hosting their own tournament Dec. 10-12.
Irvine Valley opens the event hosting Compton at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10.
