Lassen High School's girls' basketball team improved to 8-2 with two wins at the Red Bluff High School Holiday Classic Wednesday-Saturday, Dec. 13-16.

The Grizzlies, who secured third place in the tournament, beat West Valley 56-44 to open the tournament and then fell to Red Bluff 75-56 and edged Paradise 62-58.
"It was another good tournament for us," said Lassen head coach Dorinda Shaffer, who is off to her best start as coach at Lassen. "The girls are looking pretty good."

West Valley failed to put up much of a test. Lassen led the entire game.

Stepping up as the clear leader of the team's offense, Tanneria Johnson hit for 18 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.

"She's really athletic and should continue to produce for us on offense," Shaffer said.

Jeri Evans scored 17. Courtney O'Kelly and Katrina Kalfas had six points and nine rebounds.

Red Bluff shot 60 percent from the field to bury Lassen.

"They shot extremely well, but it was a closer game than the score indicated. Aside from us getting in foul trouble, we guarded them well and didn't give up any easy shots," Shaffer said. "They're quick and have got good perimeter shooters."

Johnson led the way with a season-high 20 points and Tenley DeKock finished with 10. Evans and O'Kelly scored seven. Kalfas collected nine rebounds.

Shaffer said her team "learned what it was like to protect a lead" against Paradise, which is the preseason pick to win the Northern Athletic League.

"We lead by a little the whole game, but didn't let (Red Bluff) get past us. We made some mistakes, but didn't get scared," Shaffer said.

Johnson knocked down 19 points and Renee Robbins stepped up to score 12. Evans had 10 and DeKock scored nine. Kalfas added six.

Selected to the tournament's "all-attitude" team was Michele Auman.

Lassen travels to Central Valley Tuesday, Dec. 19 and then is idle for the Christmas break before heading to the Klamath Falls (Ore.) Tournament Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 28-29.

Lassen's junior varsity and freshman teams host the Jim Moore Classic Friday-Saturday, Jan. 5-6.

Picked as a favorite to win the Westside League along with Oroville, the Grizzlies open league play at Oroville Friday, Jan. 12. Lassen hosts a three-game league stretch from Friday, Jan. 26 through Tuesday, Feb. 6.