Girls’ basketball: Narbonne reclaims City throne

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Kimberly Pickett scored 23 points and Latecia Smith added 10 points and five steals as Harbor City Narbonne outscored Fairfax 19-11 in the fourth quarter to capture its ninth Los Angeles City Section championship--and first since 2008--with a 50-44 triumph at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

The top-seeded Gauchos (27-6) overcame a 10-point deficit early in the third quarter, scoring 21 points off turnovers to just nine for Fairfax, which led 23-17 at halftime. The second-seeded Lions (22-10) were trying to avenge a three-point loss in the finals of their own tournament Jan. 7.

Angelica Laury scored 16 points and Jonette Uy De Ong added 12 for Fairfax, which had a decisive 43-29 advantage in rebounding and outscored the Gauchos 40-2 off the bench.

Narbonne had lost the two previous section finals to Marine League rival Carson. The Gauchos have won 11 City titles on the court, but two were subsequently vacated.

‘This means a lot because we’ve been here twice before and haven’t won,’ Pickett said. ‘Also because our school has a lot of tradition and we want to keep that going.’

-- Steve Galluzzo