By Daniel Roempler
International School
With steady scoring and tenacious defense, the Christian Learning girls varsity basketball team forged a 31-15 victory over Internation in the International gym Thursday.
The Eagles jumped out to a quick 6-1 lead in the first quarter, and by halftime they had extended their advantage to 14-4.
During the opening minutes of the third quarter the two teams battled head to head in a manner worthy of their mythological and animal nicknames -- Eagles and Griffins.
The International girls seemed to determined to close ranks and delimit their boundaries, and launched a counteroffensive led by Adriana Ocampo that elicited some admiring gasps even from the Christian Learning crowd as she scored three field goals and a foul shot in the quarter. Teammate Laura Maragaño also scored a basket and at one point the Eagle lead was cut to 16-9.
However, Christian Learning's offensive pressure was relentless and by the end of the quarter the Eagles had widened their lead to 24-11. Kaylynn Lampen reignited the Eagle offense with two baskets and Abby Phillips went "coast to coast" -- taking the ball from one end of the court to the other -- to close out the quarter.
The fourth quarter did not change the course of the plot, with the Christian Learning team playing solidly on offense and defense. Nonetheless the match remained tight and exciting as both teams were able to unfold some nice moves that kept the spectators wide-eyed and on the edge of their seats.
Eagle Kaylynn Lampen was the leading scorer in the game with 12 points. Mariel Salinas had five points for Christian Learning; Erica Kienzle and Cristian Chun had four each. Abby Phillips and Ruth Nyquist each had two points.
For International, Ocampo had seven points, Maragaño, six, and D. SWalm an and Irene Barrenechea each had one.
GOING FOR THE STEAL -- Jaguar Tania Landivar (9) lunges to intercept a Cambridge pass. Julia Boldt, Cooperative
Female Jaguars cruise by Knights, 29-9
The Cooperative girls varsity basketball team had little difficulty defeating Cambridge 29-9 on their home court Thursday afternoon.
The Jaguars led 9-2 at the end of the first quarter, and 12-2 at the half. They opened the throttle in the third quarter to pull ahead 24-7, and then padded their lead by three more points in the fourth quarter.
Cooperative had clearly not been worried about the Knights as opponents, and were missing several players, some with dubious excuses.
Ana Paula Peredo was very much present for the Jaguars, scoring 14 points, including two three-pointers. Carla Limpias contributed nine points, and Tania Landivar six.
Maira Lino scored all nine of Cambridge's points, including one three-pointer.
