DALLAS -- The girls bracket of the 70th Annual Dallas ISD Coca-Cola Basketball Tournament ended just like the 69th -- with Irving MacArthur crowned champions.
Ranked No. 3 in Class 5A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, the Lady Cardinals (24-0) remained undefeated on the season with a resounding 70-50 victory over Class 4A No. 8 West Mesquite (19-5) on Wednesday night at Ellis Davis Field House.
MacArthur coach Suzie Oelschlegel could easily believe her team repeated as champions, but not that they're still undefeated.
"I tried to beef up the schedule this year, so I guess you could say I'm pleasantly surprised," she said. "Every day I consider how blessed I am to get to coach these girls."
MacArthur star Odyssey Sims earned tournament MVP honors. Oelshlegel said she turned in "the best game of her career."
Sims led the way at both ends of the court. Defensively, she attacked the ball coming up the court on nearly every possession, tripping up the West Mesquite guards and forcing turnovers.
On the other end of the court, Sims drove the lane for layups or found open teammates under the basket. She finished with 25 points, six assists, six rebounds and four steals.
"She sure is fun to watch, isn't she?" Oelshlegel said.
MacArthur used tough defense to hound West Mesquite. When the Lady Wranglers were able to get past Sims and shoot the ball, the Lady Cardinals got in their faces and forced errant shots. West Mesquite didn't score until 1:57 remained in the first quarter and managed only 18-of-53 shooting for the game and a measly 33 percent from the field.
"I told them before the game: Defense wins games, and rebounding wins championships -- that's right from Pat Summit, and it was true tonight," Oelshlegel said.
MacArthur guard Alexis Jones, post Karmyn Jackson, West Mesquite guards J'Tierra Brown and Re'nika Meshack, Dallas Life post Chontiquah White, Dallas Carter post Shaquita Arnick, Richardson guard Farrin Bell and Dallas Lincoln guard Breanna Hayden joined Sims on the all-tournament team.
In other girls play at the tournament on Wednesday, Lincoln captured third place with a 60-52 victory over Carter, and Richardson took the consolation championship with ease over Dallas Life Academy, 59-29.