Story Created:
Mar 5, 2010 at 11:25 AM PST
Story Updated:
Mar 5, 2010 at 11:25 AM PST
Talk about strong finishing kicks.
The L.A. Center for Enriched Studies High School girls basketball team displayed a powerful one Thursday in defeating View Park Prep, 55-39 for the City Section Small Schools Division title Thursday at Roybal Learning Center.
The second-seeded Unicorns scored the first 15 points of the fourth quarter and held View Park off the scoreboard until the 1:08 mark to win going away.
“It was just a matter of wanting it and showing a lot of heart and soul,” LACES coach David Smith said. “We’ve been in the finals the last four years and didn’t want to come away empty-handed.”
Top-seeded View Park (27-6) found itself in a rare close game after beating its first three playoff opponents by an average margin of 60 points.
This turned into a see-saw affair with LACES (29-5) leading, 15-11 after one quarter and View Park up, 27-24 at halftime. The score was tied, 37-37 entering the final period.
The fourth-quarter explosion featured back-to-back 3-point baskets by Rachel Totten. Jasmine Scott followed with another 3-pointer for a 48-37 lead with 5:28 remaining.
Junior guard Ea Shoushtari (16 points, 11 rebounds, three assists) converted two 2-point field goals and Amber Scott a 3-point play and suddenly the Unicorns were ahead, 55-37.
Sydney Labot’s basket with 68 seconds remaining ended the drought for View Park, but by then it was too late for a comeback. Labot finished with 10 points.
Junior guard Danielle Pruitt led the Knights with 11 points and nine rebounds. Center Angel Smith had 15 rebounds to go with her eight points.
Center Taylor Holeman had 11 points and 13 rebounds for LACES. Totten had nine, all on 3-point baskets.
Now that they have a section title under their belts, the Unicorns can set their sights on bigger things, such as a State Division V title. They begin pursuit of that in the Southern Regionals next week.
“I expect to go far, all the way to the state finals,” Smith said. “If we play our style, we can play with anybody.”
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