Girls’ Basketball: HB falls short against Los Al
The last time that Huntington Beach High’s girls’ basketball team met Los Alamitos didn’t seem like the teams’ traditional rivalry game.
In that Dec. 3 meeting in the final of the South Coast Classic, the Oilers fell by a 17-point margin, largely due to foul trouble.
Those games are supposed to be closer, full of drama and intensity. On Thursday night, a sizable crowd witnessed just that.
Cailyn Crocker scored the final 10 points for Los Alamitos, and the Griffins rallied past the Oilers, 56-52, in the Sunset League opener at Huntington Beach High.
A lot of weight was put on the matchup, as the Griffins (12-2, 1-0) were without starting point guard Asia Avinger. The freshman tweaked her knee in a game against Cypress on Tuesday, and the team is awaiting an MRI.
“I said, ‘This is their shot,’†Griffins Coach Rich Alvarez said of the game’s magnitude. “This could be for league right here. Game 1 of league could be deciding league.â€
Crocker had a game-high 27 points with seven rebounds, seven steals, and three assists. She did not start out hot, though.
The sophomore guard was just two for 10 from the field in the first half, with six points before the break. She seemed to use her defense to fire herself up.
Steals led to layups on the other end, and suddenly, Crocker looked like her dominant self in the second half. She battled traffic in the paint, earning a total of 14 free throws after halftime.
An isolation three-pointer by Crocker with 2:15 remaining began a 10-2 run to end the game for the Griffins.
Huntington Beach (9-7, 0-1) got its opportunity in the final moments. The Oilers advanced the ball to the half-court line, and Coach Russell McClurg called timeout to set up a play with his team trailing, 54-52, with 20 seconds left.
In his mind, there was only one option.
“We were going for the win, no doubt,†McClurg confirmed after the game. “I said, ‘Take the three,’ because you don’t go to overtime with Los Al.â€
The play was designed for freshman Marisa Tanga to take the shot, as she had already made two three-pointers in the second half. The ball ended up working its way around to Kaylyn Nakaji, who unloaded on a deep attempt from the left sideline.
Nakaji’s shot caught the front rim, and the ball ended up in the hands of Crocker, who iced the game with two more free throws.
Going for the win was probably the right call, especially with Crocker taking over the game.
“It’s an amazing feeling,†Crocker said of the zone she was in. “I can’t even describe it. It burns inside of me, and it’s great. My teammates love it. When my teammates get pumped up, it’s just amazing, too. It just gets me even more pumped.â€
Huntington Beach trailed, 5-4, and then trailed for just a single possession for the rest of the first half.
The teams traded the lead four times to begin the third quarter. A layup by Frankie Wade-Sanchez capped a 9-2 run for Huntington Beach, and the Oilers led, 36-31, with 1:55 left in the period.
Huntington Beach’s lead stretched to 47-38 on an offensive-rebound putback by Wade-Sanchez, but secondary scoring from Makayla Burdette kept the Griffins in it. The center scored all six of her points in the final frame.
Los Alamitos had drawn near with under three minutes to go. The score favored the Oilers, 48-46, when April Soedel (seven points) stepped to the line for a 1-and-1 opportunity.
Soedel missed the first attempt. A long rebound came to the sideline. Wade-Sanchez saved the ball from going out of play, and Nakaji took it straight to the basket to re-establish a two-possession advantage with 2:40 remaining.
McClurg believed that play had swung the momentum, but Crocker and the Griffins were not to be denied.
Wade-Sanchez finished with team highs of 20 points and eight rebounds. Nakaji added 14 points and six rebounds, and Tanga chipped in with nine points.
Sydney Gandy had nine points on three three-pointers for Los Alamitos, and Olivia Clarke added five points, four rebounds, and two blocks.
The Oilers were missing Rachel Harris and Xolani Hodel, who were both playing in a soccer game against Los Alamitos. Harris arrived late and briefly saw time in the fourth quarter.
Sunset League
Los Alamitos 56, Huntington Beach 52
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Los Al – 8 - 16 - 12 - 20 – 56
Huntington – 11 - 14 - 15 - 12 – 52
LA – Crocker 27, Gandy 9, Burdette 6, Galloway 5, Clarke 5, Iwami 2, Webster 2.
3-pt. goals – Gandy 3, Clarke 1, Crocker 1.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
HB – Wade-Sanchez 20, Nakaji 14, Tanga 9, Soedel 7, Dang 2.
3-pt. goals – Tanga 2, Soedel 1.
Fouled out – Nakaji.
Technicals – None.
