Picott Leads East, Stephens Paces West to Women’s Basketball Wins

The U.S. Olympic Festival began in earnest Saturday, and the action in 20 sports included a comeback by the East women’s basketball team and strong words by two opposing boxers.

The East, which trailed the North by 21 points on three occasions, stormed back in the second half behind Vicky Picott of Rutgers to win, 88-75. Picott scored 17 points.

The West edged the South, 70-68, in the second game as Rehema Stephens of UCLA scored 17 points, including five free throws in the final 2:51.

Byron Houston of Oklahoma State had 17 points and 13 rebounds as the North men beat the East, 94-88.

Two-time U.S. amateur champion Tony Gonzales overcame a seven-inch height disadvantage to outpoint Golden Gloves titlist John West in a bitter bantamweight bout.

Gonzales scored repeatedly with body punches, but West thought Gonzales should have been penalized for slapping.

“It seems like every time he touched me, he slapped me,” said West, of Nashville, Tenn. “That’s the two-time U.S. champion there. They’re not going to take points away from him.”

Said Gonzales, of San Bernardino: “I got called once and he got called twice. You be the judge.”