LIVE OAK, CA (MPG) - The Marysville girls’ basketball team controlled the ball from the opening tip in their matchup and didn’t let up against the Yuba City Lady Honkers in a 63-28 victory on November 30.

The victory was the first in the 25th Annual Lois Langford Invitational hosted at Live Oak High School. The Lady Indians took an early lead in the game against Yuba City and never relinquished it.

Marysville (3-0) started the game with a full-court press on the defensive end that made the Lady Honkers struggle to get the ball up court, the Lady Indians had a 13-0 run to open the game.

Marysville head coach Ike Prince told the Dispatch that the defensive pressure his team started the game with helped push the pace on the offensive end.

“The first quarter, we put pressure on teams to hopefully get steals,” Prince said to the Dispatch.

Although Yuba City (0-3) struggled to get the ball up court early on, they eventually broke their struggles and were able to put full possessions together.

Lady Honkers senior guard Karine Dhaliwal was the main source of offense for Yuba City as she connected on two three-point buckets in the first quarter.

Dhaliwal mentioned to the Dispatch that although the Lady Honkers fell to 0-3 on the season, as a senior leader, she is going to motivate her team with positive actions that include cheering one another on consistently.

Dhaliwal ended the game with 11 points and six rebounds, which was a team high in both categories and was elected to the all-tournament team.

In her first year at the helm of the Yuba City program, head coach Michelle Brazil expressed to the Dispatch anytime there is change, it’s a growing phase.

“Our main focus right now is gelling as a team through communication and the basics of basketball,” Brazil exclaimed.

Brazil added that after a game concludes, her and her team will focus on one deficiency from the previous game and work on it until the next game.

The Lady Honkers did win their final two games in the tournament against North Tahoe and cross-town rival River Valley to win the consolation bracket.

Marysville had a sizable 38-16 lead at the end of the first half.

One of the benefits the Lady Indians possess is their distinct size advantage over other teams that led to a huge rebounding advantage for Marysville, who out rebounded Yuba City 32-13.

“It causes mismatches for other teams,” Prince said to the Dispatch.

The size of the Lady Indians begins with the play of the Briggs sisters.

Senior Karisma and sophomore Krystal are enforcers as the forwards of Marysville, where they combined for 33 points and 19 rebounds against the Lady Honkers.

Karisma told the Dispatch that her and Krystal work well on the court with one another.

“She (Krystal) has my back on rebounds and I have hers,” Karisma told the Dispatch.

Prince mentioned to the Dispatch that he wants his team to be dynamic and all-rounded to be able to play all five positions on the floor, so he credited their conditioning program in the offseason to allow his team to be interchangeable.

The Lady Indians won the championship of the tournament after they followed the win over Yuba City with a 52-31 victory over Bear River and a 53-13 win over Live Oak in the championship.

Marysville senior guard Sophia Rogers and Krystal received all tournament honors along with Karisma winning the most valuable player in the tournament.

The Lady Indians will next go on the road to play at Pioneer of Woodland on Monday, December 12.

The Lady Honkers will host Lincoln on Tuesday, December 13.

These two squads will meet up again on January 3 for the last non-league game of the year for both teams.