Bellarmine-Jefferson girls’ basketball heads into winter break with positives
Bell-Jeff’s Dalila Rincan goes up for a basket with Community Charter’s Michelle Figueroa defending during a nonleague game Wednesday. The Guards won, 45-25.
Just when it seems like the Bellarmine-Jefferson High girls’ basketball team caught some momentum, the Guards will embark on a long winter break.
Fortunately for Bell-Jeff, the squad can reflect on a winning streak after what was rough sledding to begin the year.
The Guards won their third straight contest Wednesday afternoon with a 45-25 victory over visiting Lakeview Terrace Community Charter in nonleague play.
PHOTOS: Bell-Jeff defeats Community Carter, 45-25
With the triumph, Bell-Jeff improved to 3-9, while the win helped take the sting off of what was nine consecutive losses to commence the season.
“We started so late this year and we weren’t together as a team until recently,” Bell-Jeff second-year Coach Claudia Villa said. “I don’t think we’ve passed as well all season as we did today. The girls were a lot more in sync and it was nice to get this win.”
The Guards won’t be back in action until Jan. 9 — a stretch of 24 days — when they will host crosstown rival Providence.
Until then, Villa can only hope that practice will help carry over what has been a strong defensive trend of late that continued into the fourth quarter.
Community Charter (1-6) forced nine turnovers in the third quarter to close what was a 13-point lead for the Guards into a 28-19 lead after three quarters.
The Titans then tightened the screws when senior guard Priscilla Rodriguez drained a 15-foot jumper on her team’s first possession of the fourth to close the deficit to 28-21.
While Bell-Jeff had gone eight possessions without a field goal, the Guards turned to their defense to stock the offense.
Sophomore Caitlyn Couch, a Santa Fe League champion in cross-country, helped create some separation with a steal that led to an assist as fellow running teammate Dalila Rincan finished off a layup to put the Guards back up nine.
Rincan, who led her squad with 15 points, five rebounds and five assists, then watched on the next possession as Couch (10 points and five rebounds) picked off a pass at mid-court and coasted for another layup as Bell-Jeff jumped ahead, 32-21, with 6:11 left.
“It was nice to see us play the way we’re supposed to be playing,” said Rincan, the daughter of Villa. “During the summer, we didn’t have everyone here and we’ve had some transfers since then. Plus, some of us were in other sports, so it took a while and it was a tough start to the year.”
Community Charter countered with a runner from Rodriguez to close within nine, but Bell-Jeff responded with a 13-2 spurt to close things out, highlighted by a straightaway three-pointer from Jasmine Freeman (nine points and five steals) with 2:08 left that propelled the Guards to a 16-point lead.
Maybe the biggest difference between the squads was simply options. The Guards featured four players with seven or more points, while the Titans had two players account for nearly all the offense.
Junior center Michelle Figueroa was a one-girl team at times for the Titans, as she tallied 11 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks, while Rodriguez added 10 points and three steals.
After Bell-Jeff led, 9-5, after one quarter, the Guards again relied on their defense in forcing seven turnovers that led to some easy points and a 21-10 halftime advantage.
Ziah Hudson added seven points, seven rebounds and three blocks for Bell-Jeff.
“Maybe the biggest thing we’re doing is that we’re actually listening to coach Villa,” Couch said. “When this year started, we just weren’t all on the same page, but now we are.
“We need to work on a lot of stuff and now we’re off for a while, but it’s nice to be winning.”
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Andrew J. Campa, andrew.campa@latimes.com
Twitter: @campadresports
