WINTER SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS : Knapp Scores 32 to Lead Louisville to Girls Title

If you look up the word frustration in the dictionary, you might just find a picture of the Lynwood High girls basketball team after Tuesday night’s final of the Thousand Oaks tournament.

Lynnwood, ranked No. 1 in California by Cal-Hi Sports and No. 9 in the nation by USA Today, was about as successful stopping Louisville All-America center Andrea Knapp as President Reagan was in keeping the Iran scandal a secret.

Knapp, whose career-high 39 points came against Lynwood in last season’s tournament final, scored 32 points to lead the Royals to a 60-49 victory at Thousand Oaks High. Lynwood is 0-3 against Louisville the past three seasons.

“We didn’t start playing until the third quarter,� Lynwood Coach Van Girard said. “Our point guard (Trise Jackson) had more rebounds in the first half than anyone on the team.�

The Royals led at the half, 38-23, and took a 50-35 lead into the final quarter. The closest Lynwood came was a 10-point deficit with 3:09 left in the game.

Knapp, the tournament’s MVP, was outstanding in the first half, where she scored 23 points before battling fatigue the final two quarters.

“I wasn’t arching my shot as much in the second half,� she said.

Louisville countered with the play of reserve guard Nancy Robinson and a fine performance by All-American Lynn Flanagan, who was named to the all-tournament team.

While the Royals could do little wrong in the first half, Lynwood tossed up a steady diet of bricks.

“They couldn’t buy a basket,� Louisville Coach Brian O’Hara said. “Our man-to-man defense was great. They didn’t think slow white girls could play man-to-man defense, but we can.�

In the third-place game, Shaundra Green scored 21 points to lead Morningside High over Thousand Oaks, 72-45. Thousand Oaks was led by all-tournament selection Kris Pederson, who scored 21 points and converted 17 of 23 free throws.