Carson High School's Janitha Iamaleava blocks the shot of Narbonne's Kimberly Pickett during the City Division I title game at Galen Center. Carson won, 53-47 in overtime. (Photo by Rob Helfman)
Story Created:
Mar 8, 2010 at 12:32 PM PST
Story Updated:
Mar 8, 2010 at 12:32 PM PST
The ideal formula for success doesn’t usual entail your best player fouling out in regulation.
That the Carson High School girls basketball team was able to do that and thrive with backups down the stretch and in overtime defied convention in the City Section Division I championship game.
Getting a number of huge plays late in regulation and the four-minute extra period, the Colts rallied to defeat fellow Marine League school Narbonne, 53-47 Saturday at Galen Center.
When Jamasha Hudson converted a 3-point play with two minutes left, Narbonne (22-10) led, 42-37, an advantage that seemed daunting considering the Colts (22-8) had already lost so much of their firepower after center Janitha Iamaleava (13 points, 11 rebounds) was gone after picking up her fifth personal.
Not to worry, according to co-head coach Wilson Labasan.
“We’ve played three or four games where Janitha has fouled out, so we’re used to having to play without her,” he said. “We expect our bench to be ready to go in and not just be spectators.”
It should be noted, the Gauchos lost five players to fouls, so Carson did manage to win the war of attrition.
“They had two key players foul out (in regulation) to our one,” Labasan said. “I’ll take that. The best thing is we had fresh legs in there.”
The two bench players who had much to do with the comeback were sophomore guard Jasmine Barrnett and freshman guard Rachelle Owens.
Point guard Chante Miles was not surprised Barrnett came through in such a clutch situation.
“I love her coming off the bench,” Miles said. “She showed what she is about.”
Barrnett’s layin following a Miles steal with 19.5 seconds left tied the score at 42-42. Barrnett then stole the inbounds pass and scored to give Carson a two-point lead.
Narbonne tied the score when Kimberly Pickett and Tashawn McGhee each went 1-for-2 from the line, sending the game into overtime.
Free throws by Owens and Miles (14 points, seven rebounds) gave the Colts a quick 46-44 lead to start the extra period.
Then with 2:02 left, Barrnett scored off an assist from Owens for a 48-44 lead. A layup by Annie Currie (11 points) and a free throw by Tiffany Moorehead put the game out of reach.
Tori Breshers had 12 points and nine rebounds for Narbonne. Hudson had nine points.
Miles said the team was really determined to pull this out.
“We didn’t come this far to lose,” she said.
Carson hosts Bakersfield Stockdale and Narbonne is at Santa Monica Tuesday in the first round of the Division I regionals.
RSS Feeds 
