Girls Roundup : Novato Delivers 1-2 Punch, Knocks Out Chino, 72-65

The Chino girls’ basketball team, which defeated the No. 1 team in the nation a few weeks ago, wasn’t ready for the shooting display Northern California champion Novato put on while winning the State Division II title, 72-65, Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

Jennifer Lucas scored 18 of her 32 points (on 16-of-22 shooting from the floor) in the second half for Novato, and Julia French hit 10 of her 15 shots to contribute 22 points.

Both scoring outputs were far above Lucas’ 15-point average and French’s 12.3. Lucas also had eight assists.

“They outran us and they sure as hell outshot us,” Chino Coach Joe Murillo said. “I think in the first half those two girls must have been six of seven.

“We couldn’t stop 15 (Lucas). Everything she threw up was going in. . . . She kind of ran the whole court. She would go where she wanted to go.”

Actually, French was 7 of 9 after two quarters and Lucas 7 of 10, but both had 14 points as Novato shot 68% from the field and led, 35-28. Three-time All-Southern Section guard Candida Echeverria, with 15, was the only Chino player in double figures at halftime.

Julie Colcloush’s free throw 1:35 into the third quarter put Novato ahead, 40-30. But Chino, the state’s top-ranked Division II team, came right back with three straight baskets, two by Echeverria, to make it 40-36.

That was the story for the Lady Cowgirls for much of the second half, though. They had several streaks to keep the pressure on Novato, but, because of their own mistakes, never led.

They had only eight turnovers in the game, compared to 14 for Novato, but made only 5 of 14 free throws in the second half and hit only 32% in the game.

Chino was also hurt by getting only two points (1 of 11 from the field, 0 of 8 in the first half) from Stephanie Dykstra, who came into the game averaging 17.6, second best on the team. Forward Aggie Moons, with 13, was the only other Lady Cowgirl in double figures with Echeverria.

“She (Echeverria) couldn’t do it all herself,” Murillo said. “We needed some help from the other people.”

The loss snapped a 27-game winning streak for Southern Section champion Chino (31-2), which had its only other loss of the season come against Pasadena Muir, the former No. 1 team in the nation.

Novato (35-0) ends the season as the state’s only undefeated boys or girls basketball team.

Division I

Point Loma won its third straight title with a hard-fought 56-50 win over Sacramento Grant.

After Point Loma struggled to tie Grant at 24 at halftime, senior guard Chanelle McCoy took control, scoring 18 of her 20 points in the second half as Point Loma pulled away. Michelle Collum led Point Loma (31-1) with 21 points, 19 in the first half. Grant finishes the year 30-6.

Division III

Calaveras, the Northern California champion, got 18 points from forward Kim Wibiral and 13 from guard Michele Anberg to defeat Woodlake, 53-47.

Forward Michelle Vincent had 12 points and 13 rebounds for Woodlake, which was runner-up in 1984 and won the title last season. The Tigers finished 24-3 while Calaveras went 25-4.