MidValleySports.Com

Gina Henderson dazzled in win.

(Monrovia) – The Wildcats took advantage of a young La Canada team to race out to a 20-7 first quarter lead and cruised to a 60-48 win.

The win improved Monrovia to 4-0 in the Rio Hondo League and dropped the Spartans to 1-3.

Joelle Tucker and Gina Henderson scored all 17 points in the fourth quarter to make sure La Canada’s comeback attempt would fall short.

With the Spartans starting two freshman guards and without the services of Kristene Hossepian, the Wildcats forced a quick tempo that allowed them to open up a 13 point lead late in the first quarter.

Tucker was on fire early scoring nine of her game-high 20 points in the first quarter. Henderson also dazzled early with quick passes that were reminiscent of Earl Monroe.

The second quarter definitely didn’t help La Canada at the beginning falling behind by 22 points before Sarah Borland hit a three-pointer to stop a nine-point run by Monrovia.

The Spartans began to chip away at the 17 point lead in the third quarter with Lauren Barsamian providing six points.

La Canada cut the lead to as little as eight points with two minutes remaining, thanks in part to Courtney Chen’s seven points and Sydney Zarate’s six points.

It was a little too late for the Spartans with Henderson and Tucker making clutch free-throws down the stretch to push La Canada’s losing streak to three.

Zarate finished with a team-high 11 points for the Spartans.