HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CITY 3-A GIRLS’ FINAL : Roosevelt Wins Its First Title

Roosevelt High won its first City title in girls’ basketball Friday, defeating Huntington Park in the 3-A Division championship game at the Sports Arena, 56-41.

The victory was Roosevelt’s third over Huntington Park this season. The teams compete in the Eastern League of the Southeastern Conference.

Roosevelt, which lost to Marshall in the 3-A championship two years ago, improved to 22-1. The Roughriders are assured of a berth in Division I of the Southern Regional State tournament, which begins Tuesday. Huntington Park finished 17-6.

Since Lorenzo Garcia took over as Roosevelt’s coach three years ago, the Roughriders have emerged as a City power. The team advanced to the final in 1989 and was a semifinalist last year. Friday, it became the first team from East Los Angeles to win a City title.

“This is a terrific win for the school and community,” said Garcia, who is 52-6 at Roosevelt. “We’ve worked hard for this. Even though we didn’t play our best game today, it still feels great.”

Playing an all-senior lineup, Roosevelt controlled the tempo from the opening tipoff. Center Luscinda Silva led the scoring with 16 points.

The Roughriders, leading at halftime, 28-23, broke open the game in the third quarter. They scored the first six points of the quarter and built leads of as many as 17 points.

Huntington Park, led by forward Esther Amador’s 22 points, cut the score to 47-39 early in the fourth quarter but got no closer.