Pluimer Rallies San Clemente to Victory Over Aliso Niguel

Big-time players make big-time plays down the stretch, and Thursday night at San Clemente High, no player loomed larger in crunch time than Lauren Pluimer.

Having just surrendered their first lead and down three points after  Whitney Leets' fourth three-pointer of the night, Pluimer sparked a 20-6 San Clemente run with the first of two three-pointers, and led the Tritons to a 55-44 nonleague victory over Aliso Niguel.

During the decisive run, Pluimer assisted sophomore Brogan Griffin on another three-pointer and grabbed two of her 12 rebounds. Puimer finished with a game-high 14 points to round out her double-double.

"We play well when we're in a rhythm," Pluimer said. "We had all the turnovers in the first half, but we played well on defense in the second, and we found our rhythm."

Amanda Dobson (10 points) provided a long ball of her own during the final minutes, and Griffin was pivotal for the Tritons as well, stepping into the starting lineup and finishing with 12 points.

Sierra Blankenbecler, one of seven seniors on San Clemente's veteran squad, led the Tritons' bench scoring with 10 and hauled in five boards as well.

"We made two changes in the starting lineup and I thought we played a little frenzied in the beginning," San Clemente coach Mary Mulligan-Crapo said. "At halftime we just talked about calming down and taking it slow. The players responded and we played well in the second half."

Led by shooting guard Shannon Abdullah, who hit three three-pointers and finished tied with Pluimer atop the scoring sheet with 14, the Wolverines (6-4) created 14 first-half turnovers and were especially lethal from long range. Leets finished with 12 points, while point guard Ella Codiga and Chloe Shrabba turned in eight apiece.

"We played well the whole game," Aliso Niguel coach Tom Trokey said. "In the fourth quarter, we got a little ragged, but these are two well-matched teams. Give all the credit to San Clemente, they played a heck of a game. Hopefully we get to play them again sometime."

San Clemente (3-3) will now head to Las Vegas for the Basic High Tournament, which tips off Dec. 20 against Foothill High of Henderson, NV.

Aliso Niguel turns right around for another road tilt Thursday at Marina of Huntington Beach.

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Aliso Niguel 30, San Clemente 22 -- In the frosh-soph game, the Wolverines were able to weather a furious fourth-quarter comeback by the Tritons to secure the nonleague victory.

Lauren Daggett sealed the contest with 1 1/2 minutes left on a three-pointer from the left elbow. Daggett finished with 12 points and Hannah Ficher had 10.

San Clemente was led by Hailey Ord's eight points and 23 rebounds. Bailey Niznik chimed in with six points.