For the No. 21 Grayson Vikings, the goal was simple. Win and clinch a spot in the Region V Tournament for the second consecutive year. Message received.
Led by a 17 point game from Lily Melton off the bench, the Vikings took down Cisco 79-46. Melton was one of four Vikings to score in double figures.
The Vikings got out to arguably their fastest start of the season, jumping ahead 21-0 in the first quarter. Susan Fahnbulleh got the Vikings started with a three in the opening minute and the Viking offense was off and running. The defense held Cisco without a field goal until there was 1:01 left in the first quarter. Cisco scored four points in the final minute of the frame, but Fahnbulleh's jumper put the Vikings ahead 23-4.
The second quarter started with a 10-0 Viking run. Melton and Ingram both came up big on the offensive glass, scoring the layups and it was 33-4 with 7:20 left in the first half. Cisco got their first field goal of the second quarter with 6:35 left, but Melton answered right back with a three and the Viking lead was 36-7. The Cisco offense started to heat up, outscoring the Vikings 16-9 over the final six minutes of play, but the Vikings still had a commanding 45-23 lead heading into the half.
Cisco cut it to 19 at the halfway point of the third quarter, but a three by Madison Martin pushed the lead back up to 22; 54-32 in favor of the Vikings. Grayson took a 59-36 lead headed into the fourth quarter and kept up the intensity from there. Iv Jackson got out in transition to open the quarter on a layup and on the ensuing possession came up with a steal that led to a layup by Melton to pad the Viking lead at 63-36. After a Cisco three, Melton answered right back with another layup for a 65-39 lead. Later in the quarter, Taniyah Davis ripped the ball away from the defender and finished the layup, kickstarting a 12-4 run to end the game and send the Vikings to victory.
In addition to Melton's 17, Fahnbulleh had 15, Ingram had another double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds and Martin had 10 points and four assists. Jackson was big on the glass with nine rebounds. Her, Fia Filoialli and Niamh Chamberlain all had four steals. The Viking defense forced 30 Cisco turnovers in the win.
The win moved the Vikings to 20-3 and 10-1 in conference play. Grayson is still tied with Collin atop the NTJCAC standings with five games to play.
Grayson will hit the road on Saturday in a big conference showdown to take on No. 13 McLennan. The Vikings upset the then sixth ranked Highlassies 62-54 in January and are looking to sweep the season series. Tip-off from Waco is set for 2pm.