Van Nuys Girls Lose by DeCree

Perhaps only Dorothy and Toto appreciate being home more than the Kennedy High girls basketball team.

The Golden Cougars have not lost a league game at home in eight seasons, much to the dismay of Van Nuys, which fell victim to Kennedy on Friday, 72-52. They have won 76 straight league games.

A 20-point third quarter Kennedy blitz, led by center Diane DeCree, proved to be the undoing of Van Nuys. DeCree scored eight of her 14 points in the third and outmuscled Van Nuys center Shawn Price at both ends of the court, hauling down 13 rebounds.

Early in the quarter, Kennedy went on a 10-2 run, with DeCree scoring six of those points.

DeCree and guard Wyndee Bailey worked a give-and-go to perfection, with DeCree scoring on Bailey’s assist.

DeCree scored again off a rebound at the 5:25 mark and capped the offensive surge on a breakaway layup after guard Stacy Parson (24 points) stole a pass from Van Nuys guard Bernie Tillis, giving Kennedy a 44-27 lead.

Forward Jeannie Washington tried in vain to keep Van Nuys in the game with 23 points, but Kennedy (14-2 overall, 6-0 in league) just outran the Wolves on fastbreaks.