Hamlet Nalbandyan
LA CANADA HIGH -- La Canada High girls' basketball Coach Dennis
Ballard put a big emphasis on getting 10 wins before Rio Hondo League
play opens up.
The Spartans reached that goal Tuesday against Arroyo, defeating the
Knights, 48-43, in a nonleague game at La Canada High.
The Spartans (10-5) led, 36-25, entering the fourth quarter but didn't
hit a field goal in the fourth.
Fortunately, La Canada was able to knock down its free throws. The
Spartans went to the free-throw line 14 times in the fourth quarter --
mostly due to intentional fouls committed by Arroyo in order to stop the
clock -- and knocked 12.
Laura Jones and Cortney Adams took advantage of the free throws, going
to the line six times each. Jones hit five of her six and Adams hit all
six.
"I told the girls that we were going to win the game from the free
throw line and they went out there and did the job," said La Canada Coach
Dennis Ballard.
Arroyo (5-9) made things interesting thanks to a full-court defense in
the fourth and hitting shots down the stretch.
Veronica Villar and Kellie Huynh both hit three-pointers during the
final minute, as the Knights got to, 45-43, with 17 seconds left.
Arroyo put its final hopes on Adams missing her free throws but the
senior center, who finished with 14 points, knocked them down to end the
game.
"I think we got nervous down the stretch for some reason. We usually
handle the full-court press well, but we just didn't do it in the fourth
quarter," said Ballard.
"In that position, all we had to do was hit our free throws, because
we knew we would get fouled. But we were making poor passes and turning
the ball over."
The Spartans had a great third quarter defensively, allowing just five
points. The Knights scored early in the quarter but had a stretch of over
five minutes without a point.
La Canada took advantage, going on a 9-2 run to lead 34-24. Lindsey
Fujimoto scored five of her game-high 15 points during her run.
Fujimoto played a big game for the Spartans early. After a one for 15
shooting day against Glendale High Thursday, including one of 10 from
three-point range, the senior guard came out on fire.
She scored eight of her 10 first half points in the first quarter and
hit two three-pointers.
"People say Lindsay is a streak shooter, but I think she's the best
outside shooter in the area," said Ballard.
"She struggled the other night but she came out quickly and hit a
couple big three's early on."
La Canada opens up league play Friday at 5:30 p.m. against Monrovia
High at home.
BOX SCORE
Arroyo 13 7 5 18 -- 43
La Canada 12 11 13 12 -- 48
ARROYO -- D' Almeida 10, Eileen Loung 9, Huynh 11, Villar 7, Ellen
Loung 4, Carter 2.
Three-pointers: Eileen Loung, D' Almeida, Villar, Huynh.
LA CANADA -- Guza 5, Fujimoto 15, Hurlbutt 1, Adams 14, Jones 9, McCoy
4.
Three-pointers: Fujimoto 3, Guza.
