CIF GIRLS PLAYOFFS : Morningside’s Leslie Goes In; Leuzinger Goes Out Quietly, 89-49

Wendy Carrico scored two inside baskets in the game’s first minute and, for a moment, Leuzinger High School’s girls basketball team had visions of greatness Wednesday night against top-seeded Morningside in the first round of the Southern Section 5-AA Division playoffs.

Then Lisa Leslie came into the game.

The country’s most famous schoolgirl player had 25 points, 11 rebounds and six steals in leading the Lady Monarchs (24-3) to an easy 89-49 win over the Olympians (18-8) in a game played at Inglewood High due to a power outage at Morningside.

Morningside will play Antelope Valley (16-5), a 56-38 winner over Etiwanda, in the second round Saturday night. The home team will be determined today by coin flip.

Coach Frank Scott wasn’t toying with Leuzinger by holding Leslie out for the first 2 1/2 minutes of the game. “Her jersey was in her sister’s car,” he explained.

In addition to making 11 of 14 field-goal attempts, Leslie--who scored 101 points in one half of a regular-season game last week--showed off a new part of her game.

After dominating inside all season, she is now exhibiting previously undemonstrated guard skills. She handled the ball flawlessly against Leuzinger, bringing it up on fast-break attempts, and had four assists--including two no-look passes from half-court.

“That’s new,” Scott said with a smile. “She’s just started that lately, but I’ve given her permission to handle the ball like that and to shoot three-pointers.”

Leslie didn’t attempt any treys Wednesday, leaving her legion of fans with something to look forward to as the playoffs continue.

The Monarchs put the Olympians away with a 13-0 run--including six points by Janet Davis--that gave them a 39-17 lead with 5:00 left in the first half.

Davis finished with 12 points, as did teammate Denesha Carnell. Princess Murra had 11 points and Bridgette Williams 10 for Morningside.

Kawasci Jackson led Leuzinger with 13 points, while Carrico added 11.

Scott said he doesn’t think that the media attention surrounding Leslie--who went to New York earlier this week for a television appearance--will have an adverse effect on her performance.

“She loves it,” he said. “We’re surprised the attention has lingered for so long, but it doesn’t bother her at all.”