"YOU PUT YOUR RIGHT ARM IN . . ." -- Griffins and Jaguars seem to be doing the "Hokey-Pokey" during a loose ball scramble. Jonatan Muñoz, International
JOY REIGNS UNCONFINED -- Griffin players savor first victory over Eagles in Eagle gym, and only the second in League history. Jonatan Muñoz, InternationalGriffins squeak by Eagles in Double OT
The International girls varsity basketball team finally defeated a tenacious International team in a second overtime period in a game played at Christian Learning Thursday afternoon. The final score was 16-13.
Christian Learning clung to a small early lead. The score stoodf 4-3 in favor of the Eagles after the first quarter, and 6-4 at the half, as both teams played intense defense -- and missed a lot of shots.
The status remained quo as each team added a field goal in the third period, making the score 8-6.
In the fourth period International had a three-point scoring "surge", with a foul shot and field goal, to take the lead 9-8. Eagle Abby Phillips sank a free throw just before the end of the game to tie things up 9-9 and force the game into overtime.
The two teams matched one another in the first overtime period, each making two foul shots, and the game remained deadlocked, now at 11.
At this point Griffin Matilde Gamarra apparently decided that enough was enough, and threw in a three-pointer, followed shortly by a two-point field goal. Eagle Abby Phillips' basket was too little, too late, to prevent a joyful Griffin victory celebration.
Christian Learning was playing without its seniors, who were away on a class trip. This deprived them of the services of their leading scorer, Kaylynn Lampen, as well as Ruth Nyquist, Erica Kienzle, Sara Miura and Laura Lindahl.
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THE WAITING GAME -- Both teams gather for a possible rebound. This time, for a change, it went in.
Hamin Choi, Christian Learning
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But the International victory was still epochal, sending people scrambling to the record books. It is believed that this was the first time the International varsity girls have won a game in the Christian Learning gym in League history. The only other win by the Griffin girls over the Eagle girls came in the playoffs two years ago.
The scoresheet for the Griffins could not immediately be deciphered due to illegible handwriting.
For Christian Learning, Mariela Salinas had six points, Abby Phillips four, JiHea Ahn two, and Jessica Smith one.
Jenny Zimmerman of Christian Learning contributed to this report.
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KNIGHT ATTACK -- Knight Maira Lino drives downcourt during Cambridge's fourth-quarter rally. Jaguar Geraldine Milos (13) waits to intercept, while Cecelia Aponte (6) is in pursuit.
Kelly Clark Boldt, Cambridge
Jaguars win foul-filled game with Knights
The Cooperative girls varsity basketball team finally subdued a stubborn and determined Cambridge team 13-9 on the Cambridge court Thursday afternoon.
It was a whole new experience for the Jaguar girls who up to this point had cruised through the season without ever really getting their hair mussed, winning all its previous games, including one against Cambridge, by big margins.
Intense defensive efforts, and cold shooting characterized the first half as the Jaguars slowly ground out a lead while holding Cambridge scoreless. The Jaguars led 2-0 at the end of the first quarter, and 6-0 at the half.
In the third quarter the Jaguars scored another six points, but Cambridge broke through and scored a basket of its own to make the score 12-2, and seemingly pave the way for a messy but decisive Jaguar win.
However, holding Cambridge to two points had been a rough job, and Cooperative had paid a price for it. By the end of the third quarter center Carla Limpias and forward Natalia Aponte were both sitting on the bench after having fouled out.
Limpias, one of the team's top scorers and a key rebounder, was a particularly big loss, and as the fourth quarter unfolded it became clear that with Limpias and Aponte out of the game, Cambridge was the stronger team. The question then became whether the Lady Knights coiuld make up the ten-point deficit.
And the answer was that they could not, but with several minutes to go they had closed the difference to 12-9, and Cambridge three-point specialist Maira Lino had a couple of shots that almost evened the game. Cambridge's comeback effort was also damaged by the fouling out of two of its players, Mariana Escaño and Carla Rocia Barriga.
Ana Paula Peredo scored a foul shot just before the end of the game to make the final score 13-9.
Overall, Cooperative was whistled for 23 fouls, and Cambridge for 17.
For Cooperative, Peredo had five points (all on foul shots); Sofia Sotelo had four (including a three-pointer). Tania Landivar and Cecelia Aponte had two points each.
For Cambridge, Lino had six points, Cho Sehee had two, and Escaño one.
