Single-minded Chugiak girls win title again: CIC TOURNAMENT: Clifford, Meddaugh lead win over Lynx.

The Mustangs, who defeated Dimond 51-31 in Saturday's championship game to remain undefeated in the CIC, will spend next week -- spring break -- in the gym conditioning and running drills to prepare for the state tournament.

"They know better (than to ask for a spring break vacation)," said Chugiak coach Tracy Adams.

Not that Clifford would want the break, anyway. She has already proven she is willing to make sacrifices for the good of her squad.

During Christmas break, Clifford turned down a Carribbean cruise for her brother's wedding to practice with the Mustangs.

"I'd rather be there for the team than enjoy something myself," said Clifford, who orchestrated Chugiak's offense and delivered 10 points in a game the Mustangs dominated from the start.

Chugiak flourished in the third quarter with a 13-point run, due in part to Liz Meddaugh's quick turnaround jump shot.

Meddaugh totaled 17 points seven rebounds for Chugiak.

Meanwhile, it was rebounds Dimond coach Jim Young demanded of the Lynx in each timeout, without success.

The Mustangs outrebounded the Lynx 35-25.

"We can shoot with the best of them," Young said of the Lynx, who outshot the victors 43 to 35 percent from the field.

"It's not the end of the world," said Keiahnna Engel, who led Dimond with 15 points. "State is a new season, and we'll see them again. This time we'll bring our A game," she said.

Third-place game

West 45, Bartlett 39

The West Eagles erased an awful 13-year state tournament drought Saturday after rallying in the second half to beat Bartlett in the CIC tournament's third-place game.

The Eagles took a 14-8 lead into the second quarter, but scored only two points before the half and trailed Bartlett by four points. The lead didn't last as the Eagles used an 11-2 third-quarter run to punch their ticket to the state tournament for the first time since 1996.

The Eagles (14-11) were the laughing stock of the CIC until coach Tim Helvey took over the program last season. He inherited a wretched 7-53 record over the previous three seasons, with just one conference victory in 36 games.

Helvey's team won only two conference games in his first season, but the Eagles built on it this season to finish third in the CIC standings.

Now the Eagles are headed to the big stage -- Sullivan Arena --in two weeks thanks to Sasha Kozloff, who enjoyed 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting, and Tessla Rennie, who scored eight points and grabbed 17 rebounds against Bartlett.

Gabby Todd delivered 14 points and Monterika Warren added 10 for the Golden Bears (8-17), who shot just 25.9 percent from the perimeter.

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Find Heather March online at adn.com/contact/hmarch or call 257-4335.

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Girls Cook Inlet Conference Tournament

Saturday's Results At West High

Championship Game

Dimond 6 10 4 11 -- 31

Chugiak 16 11 15 9 -- 51

Dimond -- Huffman 2, Nielson 2, Engel 15, Hanley 10, Harper 2.

Chugiak -- Murphy 5, Watzke 9, Meddaugh 17, Sayer 10, Clifford 10.

Third-Place Game

West 14 2 11 18 -- 45

Bartlett 8 12 2 17 -- 39

West -- Nidoy 5, Kozloff 15, Carter 4, Mathews 7, Rennie 8, Gaines 6.

Bartlett -- Todd 14, Little 2, Pollard 5, Turner 4, Everett 4, Warren 10.

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