La Quinta’s Brannan Shines in Shadow of Star Teammate

Heather Brannan of La Quinta High School hasn’t had much time at center stage. She has spent most of this season waiting in the wings.

But when you’re a teammate of Amy Jalewalia, it’s difficult to steal the spotlight.

Brannan’s role was increased Friday night in the Southern Section 4-A girls’ basketball final. Brannan, The Times’ Athlete of the Week, had 25 points and 14 rebounds in a 72-62 victory over West Torrance.

“She was active and took advantage of her opportunities,” Coach Kevin Kiernan said. “Sometimes in big games, Heather doesn’t get mentally into it. I think she gets a little scared. She tends to stand around and watch sometimes.”

That’s easy to do when you play on the same team as Jalewalia, who averaged 32 points a game this season. Jalewalia scored 32 points in the championship game.

At times, Brannan and her teammates have let Jalewalia do the bulk of the work. However, in the championship game, Brannan felt that had to change.

“I knew Amy would have a great game, but whatever the rest of us did would put us over the top,” said Brannan, a 5-foot-10 junior forward.

West Torrance double- and sometimes triple-teamed Jalewalia, which left Brannan open. She responded by making nine of 18 shots.

“Any time Heather comes through, it takes the pressure off me,” Jalewalia said.

It wasn’t the first time Brannan has come through for the Aztecs.

Earlier in the season, Kiernan suspended Jalewalia one game for disciplinary reasons. With Jalewalia out, Brannan picked up the slack.

She had 37 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as La Quinta defeated Pacifica, 73-18.

Brannan, who has been on the varsity since she was a freshman, averages 15 points and 12 rebounds. But because Jalewalia graduates this years, Brannan will have to do even more next season.

“Let’s put it this way: if Heather doesn’t come back, then I don’t come back,” Kiernan said. “She’s going to be the franchise next season.”

TOP PERFORMERS

Tammy Blackburn of Brea-Olinda scored 12 points in a 50-33 victory over Palos Verdes for the Southern Section 3-AA championship Wednesday. Blackburn held Palos Verdes’ leading scorer, Lisa Humphreys, 10 points below her 15.4 average.

Robyn Camarillo of Mater Dei scored a goal in a 2-0 victory over Santa Barbara Saturday in the Southern Section 3-A soccer final. Olivia DiCamilli of Costa Mesa scored only nine points in Wednesday’s 3-A championship basketball game against Rancho Alamitos, but eight were in the fourth quarter en route to 51-49 victory.

Heather Brannan

La Quinta High School

* Position: Forward

* Height, Class: 5-10, Junior

* Last Week: Brannan had 25 points and 14 rebounds in a 72-62 victory over West Torrance in the Southern Section 4-A championship.

* Season: Brannan is averaging 15 points and 12 rebounds.