Gahr takes the high road, but it’s Narbonne-Redondo in finals

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Several girls’ basketball tournaments around the Southland (and state) are higher profile and loaded with more elite-caliber teams, but the Gahr tournament isn’t getting cheated in its final.

Narbonne, ranked No. 9 in The Times preseason ranking, beat the host Gladiators, 82-57, in one semifinal on Friday. Good performance in a losing effort by Raynal Johnson, though; she scored 35. Reiko Thomas led Narbonne with 26 points.

Redondo, ranked No. 11, won the other semifinal, 60-36, over Dominguez.

Redondo (11-0) and Narbonne (12-3) will play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Gahr Coach Al Dorogusker is to be commended for matching itself against Narbonne in the tournament in the semifinals. He could have put Narbonne and Redondo on the same side of the bracket, which is something that many coaches aren’t above doing.

‘I talked to him about that,’ said Redondo’s Coach Marcelo Enriquez. ‘He said, ‘No, I couldn’t do it. I want the two best teams in the finals.’ ‘

Well done.

-- Martin Henderson