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Sierra comeback falls short in Summerville
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If Sierra coach Martha Spivey learned one thing about her team through its first two games of the 2014-15 season, it’s that it will fight until the final buzzer.

Now it’s just a matter of getting the Timberwolves to show that same spirit immediately after the opening tipoff. They dropped their official season opener 46-41 to host Summerville of Tuolumne on Tuesday, and it was a lackluster start and 22 missed free throws that did them in. On Monday, Sierra edged former Valley Oak League foe Sonora 50-48 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Foundation Game, which does not count against records.

“We have a lot of motivated returners who have stepped up big time when we needed them to,” Spivey said. “It was exciting to see that, but it just took us too long to get going.”

Sierra (0-1) started the fourth quarter trailing 34-22 but scored 19 points in the period to stay within reach. Spivey credited senior Kristen Maestretti’s hustle in the second half for keeping the Timberwolves in it. She scored 13 of her game-high 15 points in the second half, doing much of her damage in the post with put-back layups. Kayla Wilson contributed 10 points, whileSarah Boyer paced Summerville (2-0) with 12 points.

“Kristen was a beast for us and really gave us a spark,” Spivey said. “We came out strong in the second half and had a ton of energy that was lacking at the start. We adjusted well and came back, it was just too little, too late.”

Sierra hosts Ripon Christian next Tuesday, Dec. 9.