GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : San Pasqual Puts Away San Marcos

Terri Bamford probably had good cause to be worried about the possibility of her seventh-ranked San Pasqual girls’ basketball team being upset by San Marcos Tuesday night.

The Eagles were having a horrendous shooting night--they didn’t make their first field goal until 3:12 before halftime. And they came into the game a bit overconfident after a 51-37 victory over the same team three weeks ago.

But even with San Pasqual (15-4, 7-0) holding a tenuous 33-32 lead with 6:15 remaining, Bamford said she wasn’t concerned.

Maybe she knew the Eagles were about to go on a 13-0 run and that San Marcos’ leading scorer was going to go down with an injury. Or maybe Bamford just had faith in her team, which eventually won, 47-36, over San Marcos (10-10, 5-3).

“We were down, 33-13, against (No. 1 ranked) Point Loma and wound up winning in overtime,” Bamford said of a victory on Jan. 2. “I knew we had the heart and that we play with that extra 10% that it takes to win. This team has a winning attitude.”

But Nikki Gannon, who scored 10 points for the Eagles, also said it was an arrogant attitude.

“We didn’t seem like we were up for the game,” Gannon said. “I think we were shocked they played as well as they did. We were kind of worried for a while.”

Gannon’s fears faded when San Marcos’ Tammy Hendrick, who led the Knights with 12 points, went down with an ankle injury with 5:41 remaining.

“She ran their team,” Bamford said. “When you have the player who breaks the pressure and takes the shots go down, it makes it tough.”

Gannon quickly made two free throws, and Jill Combe hit a five-foot bank shot to make it 37-32 with 3:40 remaining.

Time out, San Marcos.

“I tried to call time out and change the momentum, but it didn’t work,” Coach Ken Franklin said.

It certainly didn’t.

San Pasqual scored the next nine points and put the game away.

“It was an overall off night for the whole team,” said Gannon, who was six points below her average. “We were lucky to come away with a win. But I guess that’s the mark of a good team, winning when you’re not supposed to.”

Tami Oviatt, who fouled out with 41 seconds left in the third quarter, added 10 points for San Marcos. Combe led San Pasqual with 11 points, and Valerie Ryan and Becki Callahan had nine apiece.

In other Avocado League games:

Oceanside 49, Escondido 18--Mildred Conston, Angela Sims and Nykia Burnside each scored 12 points to lead Oceanside (15-5, 7-1) at Escondido (3-12, 1-7).

Grossmont 3-A League

Helix 50, Mt. Miguel 28--Andrea McTrusty and Nicole Cando scored 16 points apiece to lead Helix at home. Deish Patterson had 11 assists for Helix (8-8, 3-1).

Grossmont 2-A League

Santana 66, West Hills 30--Desiree Weimann scored 19 points, and Stephanie Thompson added 14 for No. 3 Santana (4-0, 18-3). Mary Shuttleworth’s 10 points led West Hills (2-18, 1-3).

El Cajon Valley 53, Grossmont 41--Christina Adams, the county’s leading scorer, had 32 of her team’s 41 points, but it wasn’t enough against No. 4 El Cajon Valley (17-3, 3-1).

Harbor League

Our Lady of Peace 49, Christian 38--Tammy Tavares scored 18 points and Christy Linaugh added to lead No. 9 OLP (16-3, 4-0) in a battle for first place. Stacey Patsko had 17 points and 21 rebounds for Christian (7-8, 3-1).

Palomar League

Poway 70, Orange Glen 43--Christy Fortney scored 14 points, and Dawn Gigstead added 11 for No. 2 Poway (16-2, 8-1). Melody Hroch scored 24 to lead Orange Glen (5-12, 1-8).

Nonleague

Madison 53, La Jolla 33--Jody Pidgeon scored 16 points, and Jill Weeks added 15 for Madison (7-9). Lean Williams scored 13 for La Jolla (3-13).