HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL FINALS : Division I Girls : Mt. Carmel Press Does In Santana

Peggy Brose, Mt. Carmel High’s girls’ basketball coach, thought it was really something when her team ended Point Loma’s run of four consecutive section titles in the Division I semifinals Tuesday night.

As it turned out, she hadn’t seen anything yet.

The thrill of unseating the defending champion was one thing, but it paled in comparison to the joy of winning a championship, a feat Mt. Carmel accomplished with a 57-47 victory over Santana in the Division I title game Friday at the Sports Arena.

“Beating Point Loma was very special,” Brose said. “But to go out and win a championship of our very own is something I’ll never forget.”

Mt. Carmel (25-4) had finished second in the Palomar League behind Vista and was given only an outside shot at winning the section championship. But Tuesday, the Sundevils dismissed Point Loma, 55-38, and a new confidence was born.

“We figured if we could beat them, we could beat anybody,” Brose said. “The only thing we worried about in the championship was a letdown.”

As it turned out, a tireless group of Sundevils wouldn’t let it happen. Santana (26-2) led, 24-15, midway through the second quarter, but that’s when Mt. Carmel discovered that its best offense would ultimately be its defense.

The Sundevils unleashed a 2-2-1 zone press that Santana could not solve, and all of a sudden Mt. Carmel was running and scoring easy baskets.

Senior center Lynda Jones wound up with 23 points and 11 rebounds and junior forward Kara Warner added 18 points, mostly on breakaway lay-ins. Senior forward Tracy Peck had 14 rebounds and several steals that set up easy baskets.

“Our plan was to press and get them tired,” Peck said. “We figured once they let down, we would be able to get our running game going.”

Mt. Carmel’s fast break reached its highest gear late in the third quarter when Warner got free for three consecutive lay-ins--two coming at the end of three-on-none fast breaks--and the Sundevils opened a 48-36 lead.

Santana, despite 14 points from senior center Leslie Ellis, never got closer than six the rest of the way.

Afterwards, Brose was feeling a bit worn out.

“I have to tell you,” the Mt. Carmel coach said, “I’m so tired, I’m probably not going to know what I’m saying.’

Her team, meanwhile, seemingly tireless as ever, continued jumping and celebrating on the court behind her.