Gandara Is the Top Gun at University

Doug Sorey, girls’ basketball coach at University High School, knows the best way to handle his team’s best shooter, Denise Gandara.

He lets her shoot.

“If my team’s going to get beat, then I have to get beat with (Gandara) shooting the ball,” Sorey said.

And that hasn’t been very often. University is 10-3.

Gandara, The Times’ Athlete of the Week, scored 27 points in University’s 70-19 victory over Irvine Wednesday, and scored 26 more in a 53-36 victory over Woodbridge Friday.

But before Gandara can shoot, her teammates have to get her the ball. University’s offense revolves around that task.

“This past summer, we had a girl transfer to our team and she didn’t get the idea,” Sorey said. “Finally I had to take her aside and say, ‘Throw (Gandara) the ball.’ ”

Still, it hasn’t been easy. Not only did Sorey have to encourage Gandara’s teammates to throw her the ball, he also had to tell her to shoot it.

“There were a lot of good shooters last year,” Gandara said. “I look to shoot now because I’m the only starter returning from last year.”

Gandara was a reluctant shooter last season, but Sorey was confident she would take the initiative this season.

“I knew Denise would score this year, in part because she had a great summer,” Sorey said. “In (assistant coach) Bruce Bernal, we have a great offensive coach. And he’s encouraged Denise to shoot the last couple of years because she was a little reluctant.

“She has the ability to shoot outside, put the ball on the floor and drive, and to post up. But I didn’t dream she would be this successful.”

Gandara, a 5-foot-7 senior, does more than shoot, though. She is averaging nine rebounds a game.

“She’s a good offensive rebounder,” Sorey said. “She has good quickness, good leaping ability and good hands. Defensively, she screens out real well.”

TOP PERFORMERS

Allison Arrendondo of Los Alamitos scored 34 points, 20 in the second half, in a 50-47 loss to El Dorado Thursday. She had 19 of Los Alamitos’ 29 points in a 45-29 loss to Fountain Valley Saturday.

Senior post player Nicole Champion of Orange had 26 points, nine rebounds and five steals against El Modena Tuesday in a 69-52 victory. She scored 15 points and had 11 rebounds in 61-35 victory over Sonora Thursday.

Chrissy Coppage had three goals and had three assists to lead Esperanza’s soccer team to a 9-0 victory over Loara Thursday.

Amy Jalewalia had 34 points for La Quinta in a 76-16 victory over Pacifica Wednesday and had 35 points in a 62-60 overtime victory over Rancho Alamitos Friday.

Linda Lunceford had five goals to lead Trabuco Hills’ soccer team to a 9-0 victory over Bolsa Grande Thursday.

Denise Gandara

University High School

* Position: Forward

* Height, Weight, Class: 5-7, 130, Senior

* Last Week: Gandara scored 27 points and had 13 rebounds in a 70-19 victory over Irvine Wednesday and added 26 points and 11 rebounds in a 53-36 victory over Woodbridge Friday.

* Season: Gandara is averaging 22 points and nine rebounds.