Rancocas Valley takes S. J. Invitational Tourney

Rancocas Valley guard Natalya Lee said it over and over again before the game - she wasn't going to lose to Sterling twice in one season.

So when the Silver Knights tied the score midway through the third quarter Sunday at Sterling, Lee took matters into her own hands.

The 5-foot-7 junior charged the basket as if she was shot out of a cannon.

She made a layup and took a hard foul that sent her crashing to the floor.

"Let's go," Lee yelled empathically as she stood up with a sneer on her face and walked to the foul line.

It was a message the Red Devils heard loud and clear.

Lee made the free throw, sending RV, ranked No. 1 in The Inquirer's South Jersey Top 10, on a 10-0 run that helped seal a 41-27 victory over No. 3 Sterling in the championship game of the South Jersey Invitational Basketball Tournament.

"Before the game, I told my team that I refuse to lose to these girls." Lee said. "They beat us the first time we played. And now, we had to get them back for revenge this time."

Lee led RV (24-2) with 12 points and contributed just as much on the other end of the floor with her defense of Sterling's dynamic point guard, Monica Burch.

Defending Burch "was tiring, but I just tried my best to stay with her," said Lee after being named MVP of the 16-team tournament.

Burch was held to just six points. Kylie O'Donnell led Sterling (22-2) with 13 points.

O'Donnell's three-pointer with six minutes, 40 seconds left in the third quarter tied the score at 16.

The Knights had trailed for the entire game. O'Donnell's basket, though, only served to ignite RV.

After her three-point play, Lee ran to the other end of the floor and took another hard foul, this time a charge from Burch.

On the ensuing possession, Arianna Williams (seven points) drained a three from the corner, extending RV's lead to 22-16.

"The girls have been waiting for this date since they beat us" in overtime on Jan. 22, said RV coach Anthony Corrado. "Tonight, we just played an outstanding game. We're just playing our best basketball at the right time of year."

The Red Devil forced 22 turnovers. Five players scored for RV in a first quarter that ended with the Red Devils ahead by 11-6.

"I have to give a lot of credit to RV, they're a fantastic team," said Sterling coach Kate McDonald. "They came out and did a great job tonight."

Rancocas Valley   11 5 13 12 - 41

Sterling   6 5 9 7 - 27

RV: Lauren Gaskill 6, Arianna Williams 7, Natalya Lee 12, Brianna Logan 10, Jasmyne Lewis 1, Lauren Moses 5.

S: Monica Burch 6, Kylie O'Donnell 13, Tanjae Lewis 6, Rachel Hodge 2.