Holy Family basketball has no trouble trapping Alverno

GLENDALE — Out of a base 1-3-1 trap, the Holy Family basketball team’s defensive scheme was anything but basic Tuesday afternoon.

The host Gaels forced 41 turnovers and made mundane tasks such as bringing the ball upcourt a real challenge for Alverno in what was a Holy Family 43-14 Horizon League victory at the Pacific Community Center.

With the win, the Gaels peaked their heads above .500 for the first time since mid-December as the team now owns a 7-6 overall record. More importantly, though, Holy Family improved to 3-0 in league as it visits San Gabriel Mission on Thursday.

“While I wasn’t happy with our 16 turnovers, I liked that we were strong defensively and limited what Alverno could do,” Holy Family Coach Ernest Siy said. “We put together a very strong preseason – probably the most difficult of any team in league to prepare us for league.

“Our December was tough so our January could be easier.”

While the Gaels finished 4-6 during the nonleague season, visiting Alverno didn’t actually play a nonleague contest as the Jaguars have only participated in three league games this season and are now 0-3.

Such an imbalance in experience was evident throughout, but it wasn’t until the third quarter that Holy Family iced the contest.

The Gaels won the quarter, 12-3, in extending a 16-point halftime advantage into a 34-9 lead.

Alverno opened the third quarter with a three-pointer from senior guard Michelle Lam with 7:10 remaining to cut its deficit to 22-9. Unfortunately for the visitors, they weren’t heard from again the rest of the quarter.

Holy Family senior guard Charisse Talaro responded for her team by burying her own triple in scoring three of her game-high 23 points, which were accompanied by 11 steals, four rebounds and three assists.

Talaro was fouled the next time down for Holy Family and converted one of two free throws. Talaro then picked off a pass and fed teammate Liyah Lewis (nine points, eight steals and six assists) for a layup with 4:31 remaining in the third to put the Gaels ahead, 28-9.

“Alverno wanted to slow up the game and I think there were times where they got us out of our tempo,” Talaro said. “The good thing is that we kept playing defense, got turnovers and that fed our transition game.”

On the Jaguars’ next possession, Lewis picked off a pass at mid-court and dished to Talaro, who finished with her own layup.

Overall, Holy Family scored 13 consecutive points before a three-pointer from Alverno’s Clara Avila stopped the bleeding with 5:50 left in the game. Yet, with Holy Family up, 35-12, the contest was already decided.

Aia Intrepido added six points for Holy Family, which won the second quarter, 12-2, in taking a 22-6 lead into the break.

Perhaps the only competitive quarter was the first, as the Gaels only led, 10-4, after eight minutes.

While Alverno senior center Erika Winstanley only scored two points, she added 12 rebounds, two blocks and two steals for the visitors.