JSerra looking like a team to watch after win over Magnolia

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What is up with JSerra’s girls’ baskektball team? Not only did the Lions defeat Esperanza last week, but they followed up with a victory over Magnolia, which was ranked No. 14 in The Times’ preseason rankings.

JSerra is 10-2 this season. Its losses were to No. 4 Ayala, 75-51, and to Huntington Beach, 41-39, in the season opener.

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The 43-42 victory over Magnolia is the best of the school’s history. Jourdan Banks, a 6-3 center headed to Penn, led the Lions with 13 points. Ainslie Forsum scored 12 for the Lions, who held on to a seven-point lead over the final 58 seconds.

Banks is averaging 16 points and five rebounds a game. The Lions play Riverside Poly in the first round of the Ayala Best of the West tournament at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Chino Hills. They have a chance to play No. 2 Miller (5-1) in the second round Thursday at Ayala in the winner’s bracket.

-- Martin Henderson