GIRLS CITY BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : Parson’s 25 Lead Kennedy to 79-42 Victory Over Fremont

Stacy Parson scored a game-high 25 points and Wyndee Bailey had 16 Wednesday to lead the Kennedy High girls to a 79-42 win over Fremont in a City 4-A quarterfinal game.

The Golden Cougars (20-2) will play in a semifinal game Friday night at the Sports Arena at 5:30.

Kennedy, the Valley 4-A League champion, raced out to a 12-point first quarter lead and held that margin at halftime. Parson scored 12 points in the first period. Kennedy center Diane DeCree scored 13 points in her first game since Feb. 5. She had been out with an illness.

The Pathfinders drew no closer than six points. Tisa Rush and Debbie Jones came off the bench to score four points each, while reserve Jennifer Wright had two for the Golden Cougars. Nina Grooms had eight points and Shelley Mercer seven.

Kennedy will be making its third straight appearance in the City finals. Two seasons ago, the Golden Cougars lost in overtime to Dorsey, 68-67, in the semifinals. Kennedy lost, 47-38, to Locke in last season’s final.

This season, Kennedy Coach Craig Raub is taking a strict approach.

“Coach Raub has worked us a lot harder this season,” Bailey said. “Last year, we weren’t as serious as we are this year. We were a little cocky last season. We’re ready this time.”

Fremont, the third-place team from the Mid-City League, ended its season at 10-9.

4-A Division

Banning 59, Van Nuys 50--Seniors Jemene Washington, Shawn Price and Bernadette Tillis helped Van Nuys overcome a 43-24 deficit in the third quarter. The Wolves (16-3) trailed, 48-44, with three minutes to play. But Sheree Corniel made four straight free throws in the final minutes for Banning (18-4).

Lisa Nance and Corniel had four steals each as Banning forced six Van Nuys turnovers in the first half. Nance paced the Pilots with 10 of her game-high 20 points in the first half.

Washington scored 18 points, 12 in the fourth quarter, and grabbed 12 rebounds in her final game for the Wolves. Adella Head grabbed 11 rebounds to pace the Pilots.

3-A Division

Marshall 56, North Hollywood 54--Dollie Lucero scored four points in overtime to give the Barristers an upset victory in a quarterfinal at North Hollywood.

Marshall, second-place finisher in the Northern League, will play San Pedro in the semifinals Friday night.

North Hollywood played most of the game without center Debbie Herz, who picked up three fouls in the first four minutes of the first quarter.

Lucero, who finished with a game-high 22 points and had 13 rebounds, sank a 15-foot jump shot with no time left, sending the game into overtime.

San Pedro 53, Birmingham 46--Converting only 2 of 15 field goal attempts in the second quarter, the Braves shot themselves out of the game at Narbonne High.

Karyn Bolger paced San Pedro (16-7) with 19 points. Birmingham (10-10) was led by junior center Shagarro Lattin, who had 14 points. Sophomore forward Traci McAdams added 11 for the Braves.