Guards Come On In Semifinal!
March 6, 2009 by admin
HARBOR CITY — After trailing at the half, Bell-Jeff rallies to win against Chadwick, 68-42, to advance to CIF final. Bellarmine- Jefferson High girls’ basketball Coach Bryan Camacho insists he didn’t have to give his team a Knute Rockne-type speech during halftime of his squad’s semifinal playoff game.
However, Camacho just settled his group, told them to keep playing their intense brand of basketball and good things would come as a result.
Bell-Jeff picked up that intensity in the second half, embarking on a lopsided run to turn back the pesky Dolphins and earn a 68-42 CIF Southern Section Division VA victory Saturday at L.A. Harbor College.
“I really didn’t have to get on them at halftime at all,” Camacho said. “I told them to just be patient and play their game. They have been through battles like this before and they know what to expect.”The win puts Bell-Jeff (29-1) into the championship game for the second straight season. The Guards last won a CIF title in 1997, which is the school’s only title in any sport.
The Saints — which have won 20 straight games — advanced to the final with a 59-39 upset win Saturday against No. 2 Montclair Prep.
“We are just fortunate to be in the position that we’re in,” said Camacho, who takes his third Guards team to a CIF final. “I told the girls to just enjoy the win and take it all in.”
It took a third-quarter surge, and fine performances from Shelley and Margeaux Gupilan, to push the Guards past the Dolphins (23-4).
Shelley, a senior and the reigning All-Area Player of the year, scored 13 of her game-high 25 points in the third quarter to spark the rally. She also tallied five three-pointers, had eight rebounds and six steals in the game.
Margeaux, a junior, scored 20 points and had nine redounds and eight steals.
Although the Bell-Jeff defense played well in the first quarter, its offense couldn’t get going. The Guards missed eight of their first nine shots and found themselves trailing, 11-8.
Shooting three of 20 from the field didn’t help matters.
The Guards began to find their offensive rhythm in the second quarter. However, behind eight second-quarter points — six coming on free throws — from sophomore Breanna Madrazo, Chadwick was able to maintain the lead and went into the locker room with a 28-26 advantage.
That lead didn’t last long in the third quarter, however, as Shelley Gupilan took over.
“I’m one of the captains, and that’s what I’m supposed to do,” Gupilan said. “I have to step up when they need me.”
The Guards went on a 9-2 run in the opening minutes and enjoyed a 35-30 lead.
Behind a solid defensive effort that led to 31 Chadwick turnovers in the game, Bell-Jeff’s pressure began to wear down the Dolphins.
Chadwick lost Madrazo late in the third quarter to what appeared to be severe leg cramps. She never returned.
“We were able to maintain our defensive pressure the whole game, and I think that’s what helped us in the second half,” Camacho said. “Some teams can keep up with us early in the game, but when you’re being chased around for four quarters it starts to wear on you.”
Bell-Jeff outscored Chadwick, 26-6, in the third quarter to take a 49-34 lead into the final quarter.
Chadwick received just one basket from freshman Haley Bush and a three-pointer from sophomore Emily Lapham in the third quarter, as the team went two of 13 from the field.
Bush paced the Dolphins with 14 points to go along with 12 rebounds and Madrazo ended with 10 points.
The Guards outscored their opponent, 19-8, in the fourth quarter.
By Jeff Tully - Burbank Leader
Photos - Mr. Napier
Good Luck on Saturday Ladies… We’ll all be there to support you!
You can check out pictures from the Chadwick game by going to the menu at the top and click on pictures then girls-basketball.
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