Southern Section Girls’ 4-A : Unbeaten Compton Defeats Muir, 50-42

Most coaches would probably go into shock if their team’s top scorer picked up two fouls in the first minute of a championship game.

But when Felicia Benson collected her second foul in the first 60 seconds against Muir in the Southern Section 4-A title game Friday night, Compton Coach Carolyn Montgomery simply turned to a bench that compares favorably with most teams’ starting lineups.

The Lady Babes never missed a beat, opening up as much as an 18-point lead before settling for a 50-42 victory at the Long Beach Arena.

When Benson sat down, junior jumping jack Sonya Bracken and guard Marnell Wiley picked up the slack, scoring a combined 10 first-half points as Compton opened a 28-19 lead.

Montgomery noted their contributions.

“No I wasn’t worried,� she said. “They (the bench) have been contributing a lot, especially in the playoffs. They had to grow up and they did.�

Compton, ranked No. 1 in the state, ended its season with a 26-0 record. Benson still managed to lead the Compton scorers with 11 points and joined teammate Kim Thompson, who grabbed 15 rebounds, on the all-tournament team.

Muir never got untracked in the first half, shooting a miserable 26%. Center Pauline Jordan had many shots slither off the rim, but she still managed 13 points and 20 rebounds, both game highs.

Muir cut the lead to six with eight seconds left, but the rally was too little and too late.

Muir Coach Archie Newton was gracious in defeat.

“We tried to get their people in foul trouble, but it didn’t work,’ he said. “They’re a great team.’

Muir finished 26-2, its previous defeat coming at the hands of Compton in December, 42-39.