Per the Daily News:
Bell-Jeff, Chatsworth finish national tournament amid top five in respective brackets.
A third place finish at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Chandler, Ariz. is not what the Bell-Jeff girls’ basketball team was hoping for at tournament’s start.
But leaving a national tournament with a bronze medal in the Gray Division after only one loss to a respected program such as Huntington Beach in Friday’s semifinals is far from a negative outcome for the Guards.
After all, Bell-Jeff had been working on polishing its identity: fast-paced offense mixed with stingy defense.
That’s what helped Guards (11-2) in a 55-36 win against Rosary Saturday in the division’s third place game.
Bell-Jeff coach Bryan Camacho said the game fit the Guards style of play, much to the help of Julia Tani, who came off the bench to score a team leading 25-points.
“Without question the fact that every time we step into a gym we have a chance to get a victory,” Camacho said. “Our confidence has grown without question. Being able to compete with bigger schools has helped.”
The Guards were also helped by the defensive efforts of Joelle Hajj, who Camacho said “shutdown” Rosary’s starting point guard.”
Meanwhile, Chatsworth will return to Southern California with a fifth place finish in the tournament’s Gold Division, regarded as the second highest bracket in the country behind the Black Division.
The Chancellors held on to a 56-50 win Saturday against Marcos de Niza of Tempe, Ariz. despite playing without standout junior Gennifer Brandon.
Chatsworth coach Michelle Chevalier decided to bench Brandon, a top recruit amid juniors in the country, for disciplinary reasons.
Brandon did get to play for a little more than a minute in the third quarter but Chevalier decided to sit the center/forward again.
Chatsworth (8-2) was outscored by three points in the third quarter and by six in the fourth after taking a 30-15 halftime lead.
The Chancellors free-throw shooting down the stretch helped seal the game. Chatsworth made 6-of-8 free-throws, with Kim Smith hitting two-of-two and Tessondra Williams sank 4-of-6.
Brandon’s sister Kimberly, had 17 points, six rebounds and six steals. Monica Jackson had 15 points.
The Chancellors only loss in the tournament came at the hands of Cajon of San Bernardino in the second round. Cajon went on to win the Gold Division title. Long Beach Poly won the Black Division.
Royal takes third, Hart fifth at Santa Barbara Tournament.
Hart of Newhall held off Harvard-Westlake of Studio City for a fifth place finish Saturday in the Gold Division of the Santa Barbara Tournament.
“It was a dog fight,” said Hart coach Zach Koebel. “We came out great, scored 22 points in the first quarter then held them to 13. After that it, got real physical, the refs let us play. No one wants to finish in fifth place but our one loss came to quality a quality team; Ventura.”
That’s the team that beat Royal 57-32 Saturday in the third place game of the same tournament.
Bell-Jeff, Chatsworth finish national tournament amid top five in respective brackets.
A third place finish at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Chandler, Ariz. is not what the Bell-Jeff girls’ basketball team was hoping for at tournament’s start.
But leaving a national tournament with a bronze medal in the Gray Division after only one loss to a respected program such as Huntington Beach in Friday’s semifinals is far from a negative outcome for the Guards.
After all, Bell-Jeff had been working on polishing its identity: fast-paced offense mixed with stingy defense.
That’s what helped Guards (11-2) in a 55-36 win against Rosary Saturday in the division’s third place game.
Bell-Jeff coach Bryan Camacho said the game fit the Guards style of play, much to the help of Julia Tani, who came off the bench to score a team leading 25-points.
“Without question the fact that every time we step into a gym we have a chance to get a victory,” Camacho said. “Our confidence has grown without question. Being able to compete with bigger schools has helped.”
The Guards were also helped by the defensive efforts of Joelle Hajj, who Camacho said “shutdown” Rosary’s starting point guard.”
Meanwhile, Chatsworth will return to Southern California with a fifth place finish in the tournament’s Gold Division, regarded as the second highest bracket in the country behind the Black Division.
The Chancellors held on to a 56-50 win Saturday against Marcos de Niza of Tempe, Ariz. despite playing without standout junior Gennifer Brandon.
Chatsworth coach Michelle Chevalier decided to bench Brandon, a top recruit amid juniors in the country, for disciplinary reasons.
Brandon did get to play for a little more than a minute in the third quarter but Chevalier decided to sit the center/forward again.
Chatsworth (8-2) was outscored by three points in the third quarter and by six in the fourth after taking a 30-15 halftime lead.
The Chancellors free-throw shooting down the stretch helped seal the game. Chatsworth made 6-of-8 free-throws, with Kim Smith hitting two-of-two and Tessondra Williams sank 4-of-6.
Brandon’s sister Kimberly, had 17 points, six rebounds and six steals. Monica Jackson had 15 points.
The Chancellors only loss in the tournament came at the hands of Cajon of San Bernardino in the second round. Cajon went on to win the Gold Division title. Long Beach Poly won the Black Division.
Royal takes third, Hart fifth at Santa Barbara Tournament.
Hart of Newhall held off Harvard-Westlake of Studio City for a fifth place finish Saturday in the Gold Division of the Santa Barbara Tournament.
“It was a dog fight,” said Hart coach Zach Koebel. “We came out great, scored 22 points in the first quarter then held them to 13. After that it, got real physical, the refs let us play. No one wants to finish in fifth place but our one loss came to quality a quality team; Ventura.”
That’s the team that beat Royal 57-32 Saturday in the third place game of the same tournament.
