Girls’ Basketball Roundup : Canyon Ends Foothill’s Domination Over Century League with Victory

Through 66 games, spanning 7 seasons, the Foothill High School girls’ basketball team ruled the Century League.

But Canyon broke Foothill 66-game league winning streak with a 54-44 victory Tuesday night at Foothill.

Foothill’s last Century League loss was to Villa Park, 49-39, on Feb. 8, 1983.

“Somebody had to stop the streak. I’m glad it was us,” Canyon Coach Bill Fitzgibbons said. “Some of the seniors had been handed some tough losses over the years by Foothill.”

Keri Erkenbrack, a 3-year starter at forward for the Comanches, and Christa Ramirez, a 3-year starter at point guard, in particular, had been beaten by Foothill four times in their careers.

Erkenbrack was a big reason the Comanches were able to win and end the frustration. She had a team-high 21 points, including 3 3-pointers, while providing steady play throughout.

Ramirez had 9 points, including 2 3-pointers.

Sheri Rhyne added 13 points and 11 blocked shots.

Rhyne, a 6-foot 3-inch junior center, controlled the boards and the paint. And, until Foothill made a late run at Canyon, she kept Foothill’s leading scorer, Tanya Foxe, under wraps.

Foxe, who averages 16 points a game, had 23 Tuesday night, including 14 in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to rally the Knights.

“We just made some fundamental errors,” Foothill Coach Sheila Adams said. “Like trying to shoot over the big girl (Rhyne). You can’t do that. We just never adjusted to her.”

As a result, Foothill found itself down, 25-14, at halftime and was never able to cut the gap to less than 6 the rest of the way.

Canyon opened its big lead by outscoring Foothill, 18-3, in the second quarter.

The Comanches (13-4 overall, 4-0 in league play) then held the Knights scoreless for the first 5 minutes 13 seconds of the third quarter, extending their lead to 37-22 to start the fourth quarter.

Foothill (10-8, 3-1) crept to within 45-39 with 2:19 left, but Erkenbrack made 2 free throws and Dee Moore added a basket to put the game out of reach.