Banning Girls Start Fast, Cruise to Win Over Carson

With four players scoring in double figures, the Banning High girls’ basketball team earned its first victory since 1988 over rival Carson, 56-48, Wednesday afternoon in a Southern Pacific Conference game at Carson.

“We just had to get over that hump,” Pilot Coach David DeLaby said. “At times, we had a big lead on them and we just had to go out and hold it. Once we got over that barrier we were OK.”

The victory improved the Pilots to 10-5 overall and 4-1 in conference play. Carson is 11-5 and 2-3.

“This game was more important to them than for us,” DeLaby said. “We already had a one-game lead (in the Pacific League). Now, if we can win the games we’re supposed to win, we’ll be OK.”

Banning, ranked No. 2 in the City by The Times, had a 12-7 lead after one quarter. The third-ranked Colts never got any closer. The Pilots increased their lead to 30-21 by halftime and 47-32 after three quarters.

The Colts closed to within 54-48 on a basket by guard Kaimo Newton with 1:10 remaining, but Banning guard Latrice Polk scored on a layup moments later to secure the victory.

“That’s what we’re doing real well,” DeLaby said. “Teams make runs at us, but we manage to regroup. We don’t panic.”

Banning won despite a 17-point first half by Carson forward Bernice Alafua, who finished with 24 before fouling out with 1 minute 41 seconds remaining in the game. Alafua, an All-City selection, was the only Carson player to score more than eight points.

The Pilots were led by guard Rayjanette Lampkin, who had 17 points. Center Michelle Campbell had 16, Polk had 13 and forward Lamisha Pittman added 10.

DeLaby was particularly impressed with Lampkin’s effort.

“This team can play with the big boys and Ray’s really a big part of it,” he said. “She’s just very tough.”

The victory was particularly pleasing to Lampkin, who transferred from Carson after last season.

“I knew they were going to be after me,” Lampkin said. “I worked twice as hard for this because I knew it was Carson. I had friends on their team who called me every night and said they were going to beat us. So this was nice.”

Campbell said the Pilots never doubted that they could defeat the Colts.

“We worked real hard and we’ve been prepared for this game for a long time,” Campbell said. “We were just real confident today. We knew we had to win this game.”

The rematch is Feb. 14 at Banning.