THE HIGH SCHOOLS : Knapp Sets Her Own Standards for Success

She did it all. Drives. Jump shots and blocked shots. Rebounds and tip-ins.

But she didn’t think it was enough.

That’s why Andrea Knapp, Louisville’s 6-2 senior center, spent part of her Saturday afternoon dissecting film from Thursday’s game against Alemany, searching for flaws in her performance.

“Sometimes I can be a perfectionist, I guess,” Knapp said. “I have a pretty good shot. I think I pass well. I have to work on my foot speed. The way I see it, there’s always room for improvement.”

Not that she didn’t do plenty on Thursday night.

In an emotion-filled game, Knapp had a game-high 32 points and 16 rebounds against arch rival Alemany. She provided the most convincing evidence in helping her team (13-2, 4-0 in the San Fernando Valley League) present a case as the Valley-area’s best. Louisville is ranked No. 2 in the Southern Section 3-A Division.

The command performance only added to the testimony that Knapp is the best, if not most dominating, girls basketball player in the Valley area.

But it didn’t much impress Louisville Coach Brian O’Hara. Said O’Hara:

“She shot poorly. She should have done a lot more. She played terrible at times. She’s going to play better next time (Feb. 9) we play Alemany. I guess I have another set of standards for Andrea Knapp.”

And those standards weren’t reached, O’Hara said, when her effectiveness decreased in the second half against Alemany. Knapp scored 10 of the Royals’ 16 points in the first quarter and 12 of 18 in the second. But she only had 10 in the last two quarters.

Still, Knapp wanted more. But not because she’s greedy.

“It’s because I like to play to the best of my ability,” she said. “In the second half, a lot of my shots didn’t fall. I wasn’t concentrating.

“And the way I see it, 32 points to other people may seem like a lot, but if I can score more, why not. You’re out to do the best you can. Why not go for it. I’m not happy unless I do my best.”

It’s understandable, however, considering Knapp’s storied high school career--and promising future.

Knapp has been twice named All-America, All-Southern Section and All-League. She’s also been Most Valuable Player of several tournaments.

As freshman, she scored 186 points for a 7.15 per game average; as a sophomore, she scored 485 for an average of 18.6; as a junior she had 654 points for a 22.5 average.

Knapp said she is doing better in the classroom now that recruiting is over. Knapp signed a letter of intent with California in November.

“When I had coaches coming into my home everyday, I didn’t have time to study and play basketball,” she said. “My grades kind of fell. But they’re back up now.”

And so is her game.

“This season would be this season on the court even with recruiting,” said Knapp, who is averaging 25.4 points and 11.9 rebounds a game. “I don’t think there’s added pressure. When you’re a basketball player--or any athlete--you go out and have fun and do the best you can for yourself. I don’t go out to score 32 points to make people feel good.

“I can score more. I don’t think I’ve reached my potential yet . . . or ever will.”

It was one thing for Harvard High center Mike Lowe, at 6-3, to limit Chaminade center Kevin Black, who is 6-7, to 23 points. He had help.

“We used a 1-2-2 defense and the ‘point rule,’ where the point guard comes at him from the front and I kind of come from behind so he is in a sandwich,” Lowe said.

But scoring 18 points and out-rebounding Black, 17-9, was a solo effort by Lowe.

With Lowe setting the tone, Harvard (11-4) upset Chaminade, 58-51, on Friday to forge a tie with the Eagles (10-6) atop the Sante Fe League standings.

Lowe credited part of his success against Black to--of all things--volleyball.

“I play a lot of volleyball, which is comparable to rebounding because it’s timing and jumping,” Lowe said. “The main thing is that I really worked hard at trying to get position. I tried to get him behind me to get the offensive boards.

“I think Chaminade took us a little too lightly at the beginning. Then, in the second half, they finally realized we had a chance of beating them.”

By then, it was too late.