Prep Basketball GIRLS : Louisville Blitzes Past Bell-Jeff, 81-50, to Hang Onto First Place

A 26-10 third quarter blitz broke open a close ballgame to power Louisville High to an 81-50 victory over Bellarmine-Jefferson High. The victory allowed Louisville to keep its grip on first place in the San Fernando Valley League.

The win improved the Royals’ record to 14-3 overall and 7-0 in the league. Bell-Jeff dropped to 11-5 overall and 5-2 in the league. Alemany High also won on Thursday to stay in contention with a 6-1 league record.

Sophomore center Andrea Knapp scored 24 points and guard Marianella Cruz added 17 to spearhead the Louisville win. Guard Karen Secky scored 10 points for the Royals.

“I just think we had a little too much depth for them,” said Louisville Coach Brian O’Hara. “But Bell-Jeff is tough. You saw what they did in the first half.”

The Guards, led by center Cathi Cotti’s 14 first-half points, trailed by only five, 34-29, entering the third quarter. But a defensive realignment in the second half keyed the Louisville surge.

“Early in the third quarter, we switched to a zone defense,” said O’Hara. “It settled us down because we were so hyped up for this game.” The move shut down Bell-Jeff, which was held to 21 points in the second half. Cotti finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds, while teammate Lisa Rodriguez added 14 points.

Muir 58, Glendale 44

Glendale High gave Muir High a struggle for a half, but eventually fell to the Southern Section’s third-ranked team in a Pacific League game.

Led by 6-0 center Martha Rankin, Glendale trailed, 28-24, after the first two periods. The Dynamiters were able to break the full-court press that Muir uses. Muir then quit employing the tactic, and Glendale came within four by the end of the first half.

Muir was able to use the press effectively in the third quarter, however. Louisville was able to answer Muir’s 18 points with only 4 in the period, then coasted in the fourth quarter. The win gives Muir a 15-1 record overall. It is 4-0 in the league. Glendale is 8-8 for the season and 4-1 in the league.

Rankin finished with 17 points and had 15 rebounds.

Hoover 64, Crescenta Valley 55

Hoover High converted 11 of 13 free throws in the fourth quarter to hold on for the win in the Pacific League game against Crescenta Valley High.

Ahead by just a point at the end of three periods, 42-41, Hoover moved ahead with the free throws as Crescenta Valley had four players foul out in the final period.

Hoover increased its record to 10-4 overall and 3-1 in the league.

Molly Wampler scored 24 points for Crescenta Valley before fouling out in the last period. Silvia Antanaitis had 21 points for Hoover. Jena Nerlick added 19.

Alemany 50, Chaminade 43

Alemany High’s front line--which has three players taller than 5-11--dominated the rebounding in the San Fernando Valley League. Alemany’s record is now 7-1 in the league and 11-6 overall.

After trailing, 4-2, at the start, Alemany came back to lead, 13-10, at the end of the first quarter. The Indians then held the lead throughout the rest of the game.

Jennifer Kroll led the winners with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Ilene Hauser had 12 points and 7 assists, and Jenny Beubis contributed 10 points and 7 rebounds.

Corvallis 69, St. Genevieve 48

Nicole Chase scored a career-high 31 points in leading Corvallis to the win. The 5-11 senior center’s previous high was 25 points. Guard Karen Pinto had 7 assists to go along with 10 points.

Corvallis is now 4-3 in the San Fernando Valley League. It is 9-4 overall.

Paula Lucas had 22 points, while Ann Baida had 20 points for St. Genevieve.

L.A. Baptist 62, Village Christian 18

It was a rout from the start and ended even worse as L.A. Baptist took an 18-4 first-period lead and charged forward. Village Christian had only three players on the floor for the final two minutes of the game because of injuries and fouls.

L.A. Baptist improved its record to 5-2 in the Alpha League. It is 10-4 overall.

Beth Sullivan, a 5-5 senior guard, led the Knights’ romp with 21 points. Dawn Broline had 10 points.

Crossroads 45, Campbell 33

Crossroads School broke the game open in the third quarter, improving its two-point halftime margin to seven points in the third quarter and coasting in the fourth.

Campbell Hall, now 1-8 overall and 1-5 in the Delphic League, was led by Tracey Murray with 13 points and Dana Gelb with 11.