Big second half lifts Hoover High girls’ basketball past Mayfield
LA CAÑADA — Looking for a boost heading into the second half, the members of the Hoover High girls’ basketball team turned to Melissa Manouki for support.
The Tornadoes struggled throughout most of the first half before Manouki led the charge.
Manouki scored 10 of her team-high 18 points in the second half to power Hoover to a 50-45 come-from-behind victory against Mayfield, which was short-handed and supplemented by Flintridge Prep players, on Thursday in a Flintridge Prep Summer League contest.
PHOTOS: Hoover powers past Mayfield in Summer League contest
“We felt like we could come back and do some things to win the game,” said Manouki, whose team trailed, 28-19, at halftime. “We changed up our defense in the second half, started to get some rebounds and made some big baskets.
“We just had to get it in our heads that we could go out there and win.”
Manouki got things started for the Tornadoes, who didn’t qualify for the playoffs last season. She made a long jump shot to pull Hoover to within 38-37 with 7:35 remaining in the contest. She then made a pair of free throws to give the Tornadoes a 46-40 advantage with 3:30 to play.
Hoover assistant Nairi Sevajian, who filled in for head coach Stan Watson, said the Tornadoes needed to count on Manouki in the second half.
“She’s our go-to player,” Sevajian said. “She’s got a lot of ability and she can create some mismatches.
“We confide in her and trust she can make the big shots.”
Hoover received nine points apiece from Luna Panosian and Preny Sarkissian.
Mayfield only had four players and borrowed two players from Flintridge Prep to compete against Hoover. Flintridge Prep’s players were Jade Whaley and Dominique Wright, who finished with four and two points, respectively.
Whaley made a jump shot on the first possession of the second half to extend Mayfield’s lead to 30-19 with 19:38 left.
Hoover then began to see the momentum turn in its favor for the remainder of the contest.
Hoover took the lead for good at 42-40 on a basket by Nanor Sevajian with 5:50 remaining.
Panosian made four free throws in the final 11.3 seconds to seal the win.
“We started to pick up the slack for each other early in the second half,” Nairi Sevajian said. “By coming back, it’s a confidence booster. It’s a reassurance that you can come back after a slow start.”
Hoover will next compete in a Flintridge Prep Summer League game at 6 p.m. July 8 against Flintridge Prep.
--
Follow Charles Rich on Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich .
