MidValleySports.Com

by Josh Lowden

Arcadia overpowers Lancers

(La Canada)- Having a player who can score points, play defense as well as grab rebounds can really help a team.  Arcadia has the luxury of having two of them, Julianna Okamoto and Melody Chang.  The dynamic duo combined for 39 points and 18 rebounds to lead the Apaches to a 64-46 win over La Salle Monday afternoon in the opening game of the La Canada- Mid Valley Sports New Year’s Ball Tournament.

Okamoto and Chang also combined for 20 steals.

At the beginning of the game, it looked as if the Apaches would have its hands full. The Lancers started the first quarter scoring eight unanswered points, including four from Itos Aikhionbare, who was a big threat in the game. The Apaches responded with a nine point run of their own, scoring nine unanswered.

As the Arcadia duo tried to pull away in the second half with a combined 10 points, it was the tandem of Jackie Pachecho and Aikhionbare that kept the Lancers in the game, with Pachecho hitting two key 3-pointers.

The Arcadia offense exploded in the second half, with Okamoto and Chang scoring 14 and 11 points respectively.

La Salle struggled to put up points offensively, as Aikhionbare, their leading scorer with 15, became in foul trouble early, causing her to be played sparingly in the third quarter, and missing most of the fourth. They also shot very poorly from the free throw line, missing out on a number of points.

“She’s a really good player,” Young said of Aikhionbare. “Once we’re able to get her into foul trouble, it really changed the way that she played.”

Tomorrow, Arcadia will play Montclair Prep at 2:30 pm and La Salle will play Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy at 4 pm in Day 2 of the La Canada-Midvalleysports.com New Year’s Ball Tournament.

			1	2	3	4	F
ARCADIA			14	16	20	14	64
LA SALLE			12	14	12	8	46

Mounties Rock Tologs

(La Canada)- Alex Taylor is everything a coach wants in a player: tall, fast, ball handler, good defense, and a rebound machine. Oh yeah, and she can shoot too. All of her attributes were in full display as she led the Mounties to a 68-50 decision over Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy Monday night on opening day of the La Canada-Midvalleysports.com New Year’s Ball Tournament.

Taylor scored a game-high 25 points to go along with a game-high 11 rebounds.

Though the margin of victory was 18 points, the score did not reflect how close the game really was.

The beginning of the game saw both teams trying to gain advantage over the other. However, both offenses were in sync, which led to a tie at the end of the first quarter.

Taylor raised havoc in the second quarter, scoring 10 points, including two 3-pointers. Tologs’ guard Stephanie Ramsden responded with two big 3-pointers of her own and got some help from her teammates in which they ended the period with yet another tie.

Lana Haddad stepped up big for the Tologs in the third, becoming a force in the paint while scoring 7 points of her own to keep her team in the game.

With Montclair Prep up by one, Sacred Heart made mistakes early on in the fourth quarter which increased its deficit to eight points.

With a few minutes left in the period, realizing they were in trouble, the Tologs hoped to get back in the game and save time through intentional fouls. However, they would just make matters worse.

The eight point lead turned into an 18 point lead with Lindsay Anderson having a huge quarter, scoring 11 of her 17 points.

Tomorrow, Montclair Prep will play Arcadia at 2:30 pm and Sacred Heart will play La Salle at 4 pm in Day 2 of the La Canada-Midvalleysports.com New Year’s Ball Tournament.

			1	2	3	4	F
MONTCLAIR PREP			15	13	13	27	68
FSHA			15	13	12	10	50

Spartans no match for Bulldogs

(La Canada)- The Bulldogs came out strong, created turnovers, and did not let up as they beat the host La Canada Spartans 49-37 Monday evening on the opening day of the La Canada-Midvalleysports.com New Year’s Holiday Ball Tournament.

La Canada committed 12 first half turnovers to the Bulldogs.

“Twelve turnovers doesn’t bode well for you when you’re not taking shots,” said Spartans Head Coach Tamar Hill.
The Bulldogs took full advantage of the Spartans misfortune. Evelyn Abrami took full advantage of fast break opportunities to rack up 16 points in the contest.

La Canada would not give up easily. Led by Kristene Hossepian’s 13 points, the Spartans continuously tried narrowing the gap, but the Bulldogs continued to make plays to keep the lead.

As the fourth quarter came, and the Spartans found their rhythm, Bulldog forward Courtney Seidler would not miss. She would score 8 of her 12 points in this quarter.

“Our last few week’s, our emphasis has been on defense,” said Bulldogs Head Coach Bruce Breeden . “I think the girls had our lapses, but it was our best defensive effort all year.”

Tomorrow, La Canada will face Moorpark at 5:30 pm and Burbank will face Hart at 7 pm in Day 2 of the La Canada-Midvalleysports.com New Year’s Ball Tournament.

			1	2	3	4	F
LA CANADA			8	6	12	11	37
BURBANK			12	10	15	12	49

Hart trounces Musketeers

(La Canada)- Some days everything just goes right.  This was the case with Hart by dominating Moorpark from start to finish in a 60-34 rout Monday Night to end of the opening day of the La Canada-Midvalleysports.com New Year’s Ball Tournament.

Christina Falcone and Madyson Stately scored 12 and 11 points respectively to bring their team victorious.

The Indians played at a fast pace that Moorpark could not handle.  They were able to create turnovers through their pressing defense, and were able to score through their fast break offense.

At the end of the first quarter, Moorpark already trailed by 12, and was down 34-14 at half time.

After the break, Hart continued where it left off.  Melissa Boscarino and Victoria Lionetti each had six 3^rd quarter points to greaten the lead.

Moorparks Kaylie Vitali responded with eight points of her own, but it was too little too late.

Tomorrow, Moorpark will face La Canada at 5:30 pm and Hart will face Burbank at 7 pm in Day 2 of the La Canada-Midvalleysports.com New Year’s Ball Tournament.