Cypress Chargers Host 42nd Annual Charger Classic Tournament
Cypress falls just short in overtime to close out the tournament.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
21 | 21 | 27 | 6 | 6 | 81 |
|
|
32 | 21 | 7 | 15 | 5 | 80 |
Team Stats
Palomar
| Game Statistics | Palomar | Cypress |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (29-76) | (28-78) |
| Field Goal % | 38.2% | 35.9% |
| Rebounds | 49 | 40 |
| Assists | 23 | 15 |
| Turnovers | 20 | 14 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 11 | 17 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 15 | 11 |
| Pts in the Paint | 20 | 30 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 6 | 4 |
| Bench Pts | 12 | 26 |
CYPRESS, CA - The 42nd Annual Charger Classic Tournament, hosted by Cypress College women's basketball (9-0, 0-0 OEC), brought together an impressive lineup of competitive teams, including Merced (2-7, 0-0 CVC), Saddleback (6-3, 0-0 OEC), Reedley (7-2, 0-0 Big 8), Palomar (6-2, 0-0 PCAC), and American River (0-7, 0-0 Big 8).
Game 1: Cypress 55, American River 42
Cypress set the tone early, holding American River to just six points in the opening quarter and building a 15–6 advantage. The Chargers' defensive presence remained the difference throughout, forcing 17 turnovers and converting them into 18 points, while limiting the Beavers to 28% shooting from the field.
Kaylene Vivo powered Cypress on both ends, recording a dominant 14 points, 13 rebounds, and a block in 31 minutes. Marina Interiano added a strong double-double presence of her own, finishing with 7 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists, helping Cypress control the interior and win the rebounding battle 48–33. Offensively, the Chargers relied on a balanced approach as eight different players scored.
Mariah Henderson made an efficient impact in just five minutes, posting 8 points on 3-of-4 shooting, while Angelina Bado contributed 11 points off the bench and knocked down two three-pointers. American River's offense struggled for much of the night, shooting just 5% in the third quarter before a late push in the fourth. Samiya Jenkins led the Beavers with 16 points and 9 rebounds, but Cypress never allowed them to get within striking distance. Cypress closed the game strong with a 16-point fourth quarter.
Game 2: Cypress 70, Reedley 47
Cypress' frontcourt set the tone all afternoon. Marina Leiva was highly efficient, scoring 17 points on 7-for-13 shooting, adding 5 rebounds and a block on the defensive end. Kaylene Vivo filled the stat sheet with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, operating as a steady playmaker. Christaesha Jackson dominated the glass with a 12-rebound double-double (11 pts, 12 reb) and added 4 blocks to anchor the paint. Cypress outrebounded Reedley 45–38, hit 40% from the field, and got a lift from its bench - particularly Angelina Bado with 8 points and Gisele Martinez with 6 points coming off of 2 three pointers.
The Chargers also made Reedley pay at the line, hitting 14 of 20 free throws (70%) while committing just 8 fouls as a team.
Game 3: Cypress 80, Palomar 81
The Cypress College women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season in a tough 81–80 overtime defeat to Palomar on Saturday afternoon.
Cypress came out firing, putting up 32 points in the opening quarter behind efficient scoring and aggressive play in the paint. The Chargers maintained an 11-point cushion after one and matched Palomar basket for basket through the second, taking a 53–42 lead into halftime.
The Chargers were strong defensively in the fourth, holding Palomar to just six points and forcing overtime after a late push fueled by free-throw efficiency and key stops.
Mariah Henderson delivered a team-high 20 points for Cypress, adding six rebounds and a pair of steals in 38 minutes. Christaesha Jackson powered her way to 19 points and eight boards while going 9-for-11 from the line, and Kaylene Vivo contributed 12 points and seven rebounds. The Chargers' bench also played a key role, combining for 26 points, including a strong outing from Angelina Bado, who chipped in six points and five rebounds.
Cypress won several key statistical battles, including points in the paint (30–20), points off turnovers (17–11), and steals (10).
First year guard Kaylene Vivo was named MVP of the 2025 Charger Classic. In addition, Mariah Henderson, Christaesha Jackson, and Alyssa Norada were named All-Tournament selections.
UP NEXT: The Chargers are set to face the San Francisco Rams in the L.A. Valley College Tournament on Thursday, December 11th at 1:00PM.
Stay connected with the Chargers through social media. Follow Cypress College Athletics on Twitter @CypressChargers. Check in with the Chargers on Facebook/CypressChargers and on Instagram @CypressChargers.
