North Hollywood Claims Title

BURBANK â€”  North Hollywood High girls’ basketball Coach Rich Allen was concerned about the prospect of playing host Burroughs even before the final of the Indians’ tournament Saturday night.

“We’ve got girls that have been sick, and they’re just tired right now,� Allen said. “And Burroughs is a good team.�

The Indians went out and proved it, giving the Huskies something to worry about before North Hollywood secured a 54-46 victory in the championship game.

The Huskies (10-0), ranked No. 4 in The Times’ regional poll, did not gain control of the game until the final minute, and neither team was ahead by more than four points until late in the third quarter.

Tournament most valuable player Claudia Villa clinched the victory with consecutive baskets, including one that just beat the 35-second clock with 1:00 to play and gave North Hollywood a nine-point advantage, 52-43.

Villa, a senior forward, finished with only six points but grabbed 12 rebounds. Richelle Sherman and Markia Derby each had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Huskies, and Tashean Thomas scored 12 points.

Burroughs got 11 points from Leslie Perez and 10 points and seven rebounds all-tournament selection JoAnna Garrick.

With 2:40 to play, Burroughs (8-2) pulled within 46-43 on a three-point shot by Perez.

But a pair of free throws by Lindsay Sotero-Higa (eight points and seven assists) and Villa’s consecutive baskets settled matters.

The Huskies knew from the start that they were in for a battle.

The teams were tied seven times in the first half and Burroughs led, 14-12, after the first quarter.

The Huskies committed five turnovers in the first six minutes, 10 in the first half and regularly missed from underneath the basket.

“I was worried,� Villa said. “I didn’t finish my shots, we weren’t playing that well. We didn’t know what it was. But this is a great team and we came out after halftime and got what we wanted.�

What North Hollywood got was its second tournament title of the season.

“I was proud of my girls’ effort. We proved we could play with any team around,� said Doug Nicol, Burroughs’ coach. “But give North Hollywood credit. They worked hard for it. They earned it.�

In other tournament games:

Notre Dame 71, Franklin 56--All-tournament selection Judy Diaz scored 14 points for Notre Dame in the game for third place.

Notre Dame (8-2) also got 13 points from Sierra Hauser-Price, and Liz Gonsalvez had seven of her 10 points in the third quarter, when the Knights broke open a close game.

Notre Dame pressed Franklin (6-4) into nine turnovers in the third quarter, including on four consecutive possessions in one stretch.

Notre Dame outscored Franklin, 13-3, in a five-minute span of the third quarter to turn a 32-29 deficit into a 42-35 lead with 2:42 to go in the period. The Knights never trailed again, and built their advantage up to as many as 18 points in the fourth quarter.

Much of the Knights’ second-half surge came after Franklin forward Nani Escudero (20 points and nine rebounds) went to the bench with her fourth foul midway through the third quarter. Franklin also got 14 points, including 12 on three-point shots, by Roxanne Johnson, and center Lily Ramirez scored nine points and grabbed 13 rebounds.

Despite their efforts, Notre Dame took the lead for good with 5:55 to go in the third quarter and was in control after that. Franklin came within nine points, at 65-56 with 1:40 to play..

Glendale 57, Hoover 41--Alina Markari notched 10 of her 12 points in the first quarter as the Dynamiters outscored the Tornadoes, 18-6, in the last four minutes of the period and went on to claim fifth place.

Glendale (6-5), which also got 12 points, 12 rebounds and five steals by sophomore center Hilary Driffill, led by as many as 26 points in the second half.

Narineh Tatoussian scored 16 points and Linette Hartounian added eight for Hoover (5-6).