Escaño is Cambridge heroine
Lady Knights edge by Eagles, 18-17
Three consecutive long-range baskets by junior Marian Escaño in the second half gave the Cambridge varsity girls basketball team the points it needed to eke out an 18-17 win over previously undefeated Christian Learning at the Cambridge gym Thursday.
Escaño, who in her own word had been "asleep" offensively for much of the season, exploded in this game, scoring 13 of Cambridge's 18 points.
She scored seven points in the first half using a variety of approaches to the basket. In the second half she specialized in the corners, taking careful aim and hitting the first two from the left corner, then the third from the right side.
The two teams battled evenly throughout the game. The Lady Eagles led at half 9-8, and Cambridge had a one-point advantage at the end of the third quarter 14-13.
There were a lot of missed shots in the fourth quarter, but the score was also held down by the tenacious tenacious defense played by both teams.
For the Eagles, Sabrina Hallock and Anne Marie Hawthorne scored baskets to (almost) keep pace with Escaño.
The two teams will meet again next Thursday to do it all over again at the Eagles gym in the semifinals of the playoffs. In the other pairing, Cooperative will play at International.
In addition to Escaño's 13 points, Raquel Lopez tallied three points, and Maira Lino two for Cambridge.
For Christian Learning, Sabrina Hallock had six points and Roxy Jien 5. Ruth Nyquist, Jennifer Lau, and Tabitha Malloy had two points each.
Stabler, Canaviri come through
Eagle boys win overtime thriller
For the second straight year the second meeting between Cambridge and Christian Learning went into overtime, and once again Christian Learning emerged on top, winning 35-33 before almost a packed house at the Cambridge gym Thursday.
This year it only took one overtime to decide the contest -- last year it took two -- and the game was not quite as close as the score would indicate. Eagle Danny Canaviri stole the ball at the beginning of overtime and scored to give the Eagles a two-point lead, which was extended to six when Jeff Stabler knocked in a pair of jumpers on Christian Learning's next two trips down the floor.
Cambridge didn't score until the last minute of overtime, and its final two points were recorded on foul shots by Alvaro Lopez made after time had expired.
But this game had plenty of chills and thrill and was well worth the price of admission. It added another exciting chapter to the increasingly legendary rivalry.
The Knights broke on top. Seventh grade phenom Jose Ribera started the scoring with a long set shot, but would be shut down for the rest of the afternoon -- a key factor in the Eagle victory. Jose Manuel Salas then hit a three-pointer, after which Salas and Benjamin Ezpeleta took turns feeding each other nifty passes, and by the end of the quarter Cambridge led 13-5.
The two teams played evenly in the second quarter and Cambridge 21-14 at the half.
Christian Learning began its counter-attack in the third quarter, with Canaviri, Tim Swope, and Josh Mann all seeming to find the range as the Eagles reduced the Cambridge lead to a single point, 26-25.
In the fourth quarter the game became a war of attrition, with both teams playing deliberately, and Cambridge looking tired. Christian Learning flaunted its greater depth, sending fresh substitutes in several at a time. One almost expected them to start "platooning" -- sending in separate squads for offense and defense.
Cambridge stuck with what was basically its starting line-up, with sophomore Tae Han Kook filling the forward spot formerly held by Yosep Song, who broke his leg in Cambridge's last game. Song was greeted with applause when he arrived to watch the game.
For Cambridge in the last quarter Sales made a lay-up. and Kook added a foul shot to bring the Cambridge point total to 29. Canaviri hit a basket and swished two free throws to bring the Eagles to the same number.
The Eagles decisively outplayed the Knights in the opening minutes of the overtime, and the six point advantage they quickly built was enough to gain the victory.
Cambridge is now 5-1, and Christian Learning is 4-1. The final standings, and determination of which team will have home court advantage, will depend on the outcome of the game between Christian Learning and International Monday.
Should Christian Learning win, Cambridge and Christian Learning would have identical records and first place would be determined based on the total number of points scored and points allowed.
Seven different players scored for Christian Learning. Danny Canaviri and Josh Mann each had eightpoints, Stabler had six (four of them in overtime), Kyle Swope had five (including a three-pointer), and Tim Swope had four. Paul Estes and Richard Ling had two points each.
For Cambridge, Juan Manuel Salas finished with 16, and Benjamin Ezpeleta scored ten. Tae Han Kook had 3, while Jose Ribera and Alvaro Lopez had two points each.
