Guard Win Stokes Rivalry!

WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Whether or not a rivalry grows between the Antelope Valley High and Bellarmine-Jefferson girls’ basketball teams remains to be seen, especially since the schools are no longer in the same division.

If one does develop, however, then it could be surmised the Antelopes will look for revenge, once again, after Bell-Jeff held on for a 43-36 victory in the Oaks Christian Shootout on Saturday afternoon.

The victory was the second in three games for Bell-Jeff (16-6) over Antelope Valley (12-7) in 11 months, as the Guards, sixth-ranked in Division IV-AA, eliminated the Antelopes, 77-73, in the quarterfinals of last year’s Division III-A playoffs.

Antelope Valley, ranked fifth in Division III-AA, exacted payback this season in a 53-39 victory on Nov. 30.

“This was our third time against them and it was fun again,” Bell-Jeff Coach Jaclyn Johnson said. “As either a player or coach, all you can ask for is to play good competition and that’s what Antelope Valley brings every time.”

The Antelopes trailed by 17 points early in the third and were down, 33-19, at the close of the same quarter.

Yet, Antelope Valley opened the fourth with a three-pointer from Crystal Brown, assisted by Angel Bailey, followed by a three-point play from Fresno State-bound guard Destini Price, who was fouled while converting a layup.

Price’s subsequent free throw brought Antelope Valley within 33-25 with 6:57 remaining.

While Bell-Jeff countered with a quick inside basket from San Jose State-signed Jasmine Smith, who was assisted by Rishonda Napier, the Antelopes pulled within 35-30 with 4:39 remaining.

The Antelopes’ surge proved unsustainable, though, as the Guards scored the next two buckets on an offensive put back from Smith and a scoop shot from senior forward Averie Guzman.

Smith later iced the game with a layup with 30 seconds left that pushed the Guards ahead, 43-34.

“Everyone gets involved. We don’t rely on one player or we wouldn’t be doing as [well] as we are,” said Guzman, who finished with eight points and two steals.

The Guards took a 23-13 advantage into the half thanks to team play.

Six Bell-Jeff players contributed at least one point in the first half, while only three Antelopes did the same.

Bell-Jeff committed five turnovers in the first quarter, but only one in the second, while Antelope Valley finished with 11 turnovers in the half.

Bell-Jeff led, 7-5, after one quarter, but surrendered its advantage to open the second on a three-pointer from Keiona Mathews.

The Guards, however, won the remainder of the quarter, 14-5, including scoring the last nine points after Antelope Valley led, 13-12, with 4:57 remaining.

Bell-Jeff responded with a two-footer from Guzman followed by a three-pointer from Napier to go up, 17-13.

Bell-Jeff closed the half with layups from Tiffany Ho and Smith and a free throw from Karina Moreno.

“Antelope Valley is a good team and I’m just glad we got the win this time,” said Napier, who was just named a McDonald’s All-American nominee.

Smith led Bell-Jeff with 13 points and Napier added 12 points.

Mathews paced all scorers with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Price scored 11 and Bailey chipped in nine.

by Andrew Camps

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BURBANK- Bell-Jeff’s Napier nominated for McDonald’s All-American. Rishonda Napier  Read more

Guards Right Ship!

BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON HIGH — Girls’ basketball: Bell-Jeff uses big third-quarter push to gain 66-43 home victory. Read more

Three Squads Open At Home!

BURBANK — It was a banner year as far as the CIF Southern Section playoffs are concerned for the four local girls’ basketball Read more

Another Championship For Guards!

BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON HIGH — Bell-Jeff goes undefeated in clinching its fourth straight league championship. Read more

Bell-Jeff Wins Again!

OAKS CHRISTIAN - Jasmine Smith scored 21 points, including 12 in the first half to help the Guards in a nonleague victory at the Oaks Read more

It’s All Bell-Jeff In 102-15 Victory!

BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON HIGH — Almost everyone in the gym knew the Guards were most probably going to Read more

Bell-Jeff Comes Up Short In Semifinal!

INGLEWOOD - Bell-Jeff came up just short in a semifinal against Serra at the Inglewood tournament

Serra will play the winner of Sierra Canyon vs. Santa Monica in the championship Saturday

Bell-Jeff (54) vs. Serra (57) Final
1st quarter - BJ (14) - Serra (14)
2nd quarter - BJ (28) - Serra (30)
3rd quarter - BJ (43) - Serra (42)
4th quarter - BJ (54) - Serra (57)

Rishonda Napier - 11 points
Layana White - 10 points
Kiah Jones - 2 points
Jasmine Smith - 8 points
Leslie Lopez-Wood - 13 points (3 - 3pt shots)
Johnece Miller - 6 points
Clarissa Larios - 4 points

Serra
Bria Richardson - 18 points
Simone Thompson - 9 points
Sierra Thompson - 8 points
Taylor Reid - 3 points
Rejane Verin - 6 points
Calia Hayley - 4 points
Nicole Collins - 9 points

Jack Pollon/Daily News

Second Half Lifts Bell-Jeff Past Oaks Christian!

GARDENA – Lopez-Wood, Napier are catalysts again for Bell-Jeff in tournament quarterfinal victory. Read more

Bell-Jeff Girls’ Basketball Shows Off In Win Over Chatsworth!

GARDENA - The swarming full-court pressure and explosive transition game are still present for the Bell-Jeff girls’ basketball team under new coach Jaclyn Johnson.

But two contests into the season, the Guards are showcasing another facet of their game and it caused plenty of frustration Tuesday for Chatsworth.

Relying on an efficient half-court offense that featured crisp ball movement and effective rotation, Bell-Jeff built a 22-point advantage in the third quarter before cruising to a 58-47 pool-play victory in the elite bracket of the Inglewood City of Champions tournament at Serra High.

Leslie Lopez-Wood and Rishonda Napier led the Guards (2-0) with 20 points each, hitting a combined seven 3-pointers, to secure a berth the quarterfinals at 4:30 p.m. Thursday against Bishop Montgomery or Oaks Christian at Inglewood High.

“We’re a very unselfish team and we’re sharing the ball and the results have been phenomenal thus far,” said Napier, who added five steals.

“It’s amazing. This is the best I’ve seen our half-court (offense).”

Napier wouldn’t get any arguments from the Chancellors (0-1), who were often late to rotate - allowing open looks on the perimeter - or struggled to box out on the weak side, resulting in easy putbacks for the Guards.

“(Coach Johnson) wants us to be disciplined,” Lopez-Wood said. “We’re still an up-tempo team, but looking over our films from last year, she noticed that sometimes we lacked the ability to run our sets. It’s still a work in progress, but we want to keep getting better each day.”

Already leading by 15 in the third quarter, Bell-Jeff used a seven-point run in a 75-second span to erase any hopes of a Chancellors’ comeback, drawing the ire of Chatsworth coach Michelle Chevalier, who challenged her team to “play with pride” during a timeout.

Following a 12-point first half, Portland-bound guard Jasmine Wooton was held scoreless in the third quarter, as Bell-Jeff outscored the Chancellors 19-6.

“We’re starting to learn about each other a little more,” Napier said. “We’re getting to know our strengths a little better and our offense is really beginning to click.”

Thomesha Smith had 16 points and 17 rebounds for the Chancellors, who cut into the deficit with a 21-point fourth quarter. Wooton finished with 15 points and nine rebounds for Chatsworth.

Kiah Jones contributed four points and eight rebounds for Bell-Jeff.

Erik Boal - Dialy News

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