Jalewalia Sets Scoring Mark

Amy Jalewalia scored 60 points in La Quinta High School’s 85-32 victory over Kennedy Monday to establish an Orange County girls’ single-game scoring record.

Jalewalia left the Garden Grove League game with 2 minutes 32 seconds remaining after breaking former Whittier Christian star Cindy Vyskocil’s mark of 59 points established in 1986-87. Former Brea-Olinda star Carrie Egan scored 58 points in the same season.

Jalewalia missed five of her first eight shots, but she got hot after banking in a half-court shot at the buzzer to end the first quarter. She made 25 of 38 shots, including two of three three-pointers.

Jalewalia also made 8 of 10 free throws and had 15 rebounds and four steals. She scored repeatedly from the low post and on offensive rebounds against a smaller Kennedy team.

“When I made the half-court shot, I sensed my shooting luck was coming back,” she said. “I haven’t shot very well the last couple of weeks, but our team scoring has been more balanced.”

Jalewalia scored 12 points in the first quarter and had 27 points at halftime. She had a big third quarter, scoring 22 points and then added 11 points in the last quarter.

Last season, Jalewalia had 51 points with six minutes remaining in a league game against Pacifica when Coach Kevin Kiernan elected to replace her. Kiernan has had second thoughts about the decision.

“We were ahead, 50-2, at halftime and I felt bad for Pacifica, so I took her out,” Kiernan said. “I never thought she would have another chance at the record. I felt I may have cost her a chance at a prestigious record.

“Tonight was a total surprise. Kennedy is a good team that will most likely finish third in our league. You wouldn’t expect Amy to score 60 points against them. It just goes to show you can’t plan something like this.”

Jalewalia, who has signed a national letter of intent to attend UCLA in the fall, scored 51 points earlier this year in a nonleague game against Santa Ana Valley. It was the 50th consecutive league victory for La Quinta (19-2, 10-0).

In another Garden Grove League game:

Garden Grove 50, Bolsa Grande 40--Melanie Dear had 17 points and Chris Bazzel 16 for visiting Garden Grove (10-8, 6-4). Garden Grove led, 19-17, at the half, but outscored Bolsa Grande, 17-4, in the third quarter. Cowanda Bussey had 20 points for Bolsa Grande.