(Covina) – For the second time in 2011-2012, Covina managed to pull away from La Canada and in the process continue its longest playoff run in the school’s storied 104-year history with a 51-25 victory.
A lethal combination of Dominique Theus’s three-point shooting and suffocating defense displayed by Karla Rodas on Spartans point-guard Courtney Chen was the perfect storm in advancing to the semi-finals of the 3A bracket.
La Canada’s defensive plan was simple enough, stop Ashley Baddorf and make the surrounding cast of Colts defeat them. Through two quarters Baddorf only accounted for six points while Theus and Marissa Clark combined for 14 of the 26 first half points.
As lethal as Covina’s offense during the game, the same could not be said for the Spartans attack as they went 7-for-47 from the field and were held to just three points during the third quarter that saw a 10-point half time deficit balloon to 21 before Kasey Okazaki buried a three pointer to stop the bleeding.
The Colts defense held La Canada scoreless for 13:14 seconds of the second half and went on a 10-0 run in the first 6:14 seconds of the final stanza.
Baddorf finished the night with a game-high 14 points and Elizabeth Velasquez finished with 12 points helping to lead the Covina offense. Theus closed the night out with three-first half three-pointers.
The Spartans played catch for the entire night and fell behind early in the first quarter as the Colts rushed out to a 7-0 lead just 1:22 into the first quarter.
After La Canada head coach Tamar Hill called a time out, the Spartans battled back to tie the score at seven, before falling behind for good prior to the first quarter buzzer. Covina never trailed in the game.
Chen closed the night with a team-high 12 points for La Canada.
Notes: When introduced in 1908 as a varsity sport, the game had a different look than today’s version. At that time, teams played a half court style of play in which there were offense and defensive teams. When the offense missed and defense rebounded the ball, the defense would be sent off the court and replaced by their offense.
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