The #3 Vista Murrieta Lady Broncos (25-5) have relied on the scoring ability of combo guard Serafina Maulupe for the past two years and last Saturday’s CIF-SS Division 1A Quarterfinals game against #6 AB Miller Rebels (23-5, 8-2, #2 Citrus League) was no exception as Vista Murrieta advanced into the semifinals round with a 61-54 win. This is Vista Murrieta’s deepest foray into the CIF playoffs.

Maulupe has adjusted her league leading scoring and playing style this year to accommodate other offensive options: fellow senior Alexis Rivas, juniors Yuendi Guridi and Tatiana Navarro, freshmen Jaelyn Brown and Brittney Reed and sophomores Leitasi Cravens and Alexis Marshall.

"I score when they need me to," said Maulupe, who put up 18 of her 21 points in the second half to lead the Broncos to victory. She went 11-for-13 from the free throw line and they needed all of the points to stave off a 10-0 Miller run in the fourth quarter that brought the Rebels to within a point.

Brown posted a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds despite foul trouble. Cravens scored on six of her seven attempts for 13 points in the first half; she added seven rebounds, three steals and two assists. Reed had 10 points and eleven rebounds.

The Lady Broncos previously dominated Trabuco Hills (58-10), and defeated #14 La Quinta (75-50).

Update: The #2 Canyon Springs Cougars (19-9, 8-4, Inland Valley #3) outraced the Broncos in the semifinals 78-69. Maulupe’s 25-point game and the Broncos’ furious 21-point fourth quarter comeback attempt was not enough to overcome the Cougars’ 19-11 first half field goal advantage.

The Cougars’ fast break offense and offensive putbacks by their 6’3" post players netted 24 points in the paint in the first half alone. Freshman Jaelyn Brown fouled out in the final period with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Fellow freshman Brittney Reed contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds.

"That kid [Maulupe] is an excellent athlete," said Cougars Coach Gail Hale, one of only four Inland area coaches to win over 300 games. "Our goal was to pressure them and get their legs out from under them. We got a little rattled in the fourth quarter, but we hit our free throws (11 in the final period)."

Point guard Cheyenne Greenhouse led the Cougars with 27 points, 13 from the charity stripe.

"I’m proud of our young team growing and learning and maintaining control in spite of adversity," said senior guard Maulupe.

"Our interior defense gave up too many easy baskets," said Broncos’ Coach Chris Jones. "We hope to play next Wednesday in the state tournament."