WESTERN TOURNAMENT : Two Guide Kennedy Girls to Title

When things looked hopeless for the Kennedy High girls’ basketball team Wednesday night, Lynly Matsumoto and Damia Williams rescued the Fighting Irish.

Matsumoto hit a three-pointer with 1 minute 11 seconds to play that gave Kennedy the lead for good, and Williams scored 20 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as the Irish defeated Western, 48-43, in the championship game of the Western tournament.

The three-point basket by Matsumoto, who finished with 10 points and was voted the tournament’s most valuable player, put Kennedy ahead, 44-43. But it was Williams, a junior center, who carried the Irish during their comeback in the fourth quarter.

Western (7-6) held a 41-31 lead early in the quarter before Williams and Matsumoto rallied Kennedy (7-3). Williams, who had 10 points in the fourth quarter, cut Western’s lead to 43-41 with two consecutive baskets before Matsumoto’s go-ahead three-pointer. Williams then wrapped up the scoring with four more points, two on free throws.

“This is her best game so far,” Kennedy Coach Karen Wolfe said of Williams. “She’s coming along. I’m looking for that kind of performance to happen more frequently.”

The teams played even in the first half, but Western went on a 10-0 run midway through the third quarter to take a 33-26 lead. The Pioneers led, 37-30, at the end of the quarter.

Kwanzaa Gibson and Jenny Christensen each scored 12 points for Western. Charlotte Watley led the Pioneers with 11 rebounds.

Kennedy guard Karin Kitagawa had eight points and played a fine defensive game, stealing five Western passes.

In other games:

Steveston (Canada) 47, Loara 31--Lori Kemp had a game-high 18 points for the Packers, who held a comfortable 41-19 lead after three quarters and cruised to victory in the third-place game.

Magnolia 47, Esperanza 44--Stoni Isaacks scored 15 points and had eight rebounds for Magnolia (6-5) in the consolation championship game. Melanie Wall scored 12 points for Esperanza (8-3).

Savanna 47, Anaheim 28--Stacey Aliff led Savanna with a game-high 14 points in the seventh-place game. Sara Works added 12 points for Savanna and Joanne Rodriguez had 10 points for Anaheim.