By Ana Saavedra Banzer
Cambridge College
The Cooperative girls varsity basketball team rallied in the second half to catch up with, and ultimately to defeat Cambridge 24-23 Tuesday.
The victory cemented the Jaguars (5-1) hold on first place for the regular season, and pairs them against winless International (0-6) in the semifinals of the postseason playoffs. The Knights (3-3) will play the Christian Learning Eagles (4-2). (See schedule at right.)
Both team were prepared and everyone was nervous as the game started. Cooperative had won the previous meeting between the two teams in their gym by two points, and the Knights, playing for the first time this year on their home court, were looking for revenge.
Things were equal at the start and both teams had fire in their shoes, but the Knights took advantage of every opportunity they had to score and after seven minutes they were ahead 10-2.
The Jaguars were doing a good job, though, and when the first quarter ended they had cut the Knights advantage to 12-6.
Both teams started strongly in the second quarter. The Jaguars were doing their best to improve their defense and not let Cambridge score. Though Cambridge kept the lead, they weren't as fierce as at the beginning of the first quarter. Vania Rueda was having an outstanding day for the Knights, scoring six points in the game, way above her average, and making two key baskets in the second quarter to help Cambridge stay ahead, 16-11, at the half.
At the beginning of the third quarter the Jaguars began to catch up, and after quick baskets by Sofia Sotelo and Ana Paola Peredo the score was 16-15. By the end of the quarter the teams were tied at 18-18.
In the last quarter the Knights were suddenly on fire again, and with five minutes to go in the game they had opened a 23-19 lead.
But the Jaguars did not give up! Both teams were tense as the Jaguars pulled within one point, 23-22.
"Omigod!" were the only words in people's mouths as Tanie Landivar dribbled along the baseline and put in the basket and the Jaguars ahead 24-23 with only 44 seconds left.
The Knights tried desperately to score, and the Jaguars tried just as desperately to defend their lead. When the clock ran out there was dejection on the Knights' faces, and joy in the Jaguars'.
Sofia Sotelo was the high scorer for Cooperative with ten points, including a three-pointer. Ana Paola Peredo had eight, Tania Landivar four; while Ana Paola Justiniano and Nicole Broersma had one point each. Cecelia Aponte, Cooperative's leading scorer up until this game, was out for medical reasons.
Raquel Lopez had 11 points for Cambridge, Vania Rueda had six, Maira Lino four, and Karen Aliaga two.
Eagles struggle against Griffins, but win 16-12
By Trevor Reed
Christian Learning Center
The Christian Learning girls varsity basketball team beat International 16 to 12 in the Griffins gym Tuesday.
The win, coupled with Cambridge's loss, enabled the Eagle girls to claim second place for the now completed regular season. The Eagles (4-2) will now play Cambridge (3-3) in the semifinals of the postseason playoff tournament. The Griffins (0-6) take on Cooperative (5-1) in the other pairing. (See schedule at right.)
The scoring started out with one basket for each team, tying the game at 2-2. A free throw by Tabitha Malloy brought the score to 3-2, and it stayed that way until the end of the quarter.
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GOING FOR IT -- Eagle Tabitha Malloy (20) and Griffin Ines Fernandez (4) battle for a rebound.
Jonatan Muñoz, International
The Eagles had possession of the ball most of the quarter, mostly due to the ball being hit out of bounds numerous times by Griffin defenders.
A free throw in the second quarter tied the game at 3-3. That free throw was the only point scored in the quarter, which was full of "traveling" calls and turnovers, but very few shots.
The excitement grew in the third quarter as the teams battled back and forth for the lead. The third quarter ended with the score 9-7 in favor of the Eagles. The Eagles' lead grew in the final quarter after Kaylynn Lampen sank a three-pointer, but Griffin Camila Johnson answered with a 3-pointer of her own.
Each team scored two more points, bringing the score to 14-12.
Tabitha Malloy made one more basket with 2 seconds left on the clock to bring the final score to 16-12.
Malloy had nine points for Christian Learning, and Kaylyn Lanpen had seven.
For International, Johnson had a total of five, and Stephanie Gioto had four. Maria Isabel Barrenechea, Ines Fernandez, and Regina Landivar had one point each.
