L.A. Wins 3 Golds on Final Day

The Los Angeles Maccabee Athletic Club won gold medals in boys’ basketball, boys’ soccer and softball Thursday, the final day of competition in the Maccabi games in Chicago.

Led by Jason Farrell of West Hills, who scored a combined 25 points in two games Wednesday, L. A. outlasted Washington, D.C., 49-47, at Northwestern University to win the gold in basketball. The game was not decided until a Washington player missed two free throws after time had expired.

In soccer, Meir Cohen of Tarzana scored two goals and Igal Marmar of Encino added another as L. A. defeated Boston, 3-0. L. A. outscored its opponents, 19-2, in six games.

In softball, Alicia Zinner of Thousand Oaks pitched a three-hitter with seven strikeouts and Alisha Knopf hit two solo home runs as L. A. overcame a three-run first-inning deficit to defeat Chicago, 11-3. Annie Simon of Encino was 3 for 4.

Earlier in the day, L. A. defeated Cleveland, 8-0, on the strength of a one-hitter by Cari Silverman of West Hills to advance to the championship. Silverman, who will be a junior this fall at El Camino Real High, had 12 strikeouts.

L. A. earned silver medals in girls’ basketball and girls’ volleyball.

Boston defeated L. A., 39-31, to win the gold medal in basketball. Melissa Gische of Westlake Village scored 16 points to lead L. A.

In girls’ volleyball, Brazil defeated L. A., 15-7, 15-3, to win the gold medal. L. A. was led by Lynn Pinkus of Tarzana with four kills and five service aces. Rachel Berger of West Hills added four kills and three service aces.

Laura Kimel of Goleta won her singles semifinal, 6-0, 6-0, then duplicated the feat in the final to capture the gold medal in tennis.

Deena Drossin of Agoura Hills led L. A. with four gold medals in the games. On Tuesday, Drossin, who attends Agoura High, won the 400-meter relay, along with Cheryl Cohler of Northridge, Tracy Ingle of Chatsworth and Lauren Goldstein of Westlake Village. Drossin also won the 3,000-, 1,500- and 800-meter races.