GIRLS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Tippie Powers Jefferson to Eagle Rock Tourney Title

The Jefferson High girls’ basketball team has always been aware of Shonte Tippie’s talents. On Thursday, Tippie made her value clear to her opponents.

The 5-foot-11 forward scored 35 points and grabbed 18 rebounds to help Jefferson to a 69-49 victory over Eagle Rock in the championship of the Eagle Rock tournament.

Tippie, who also had five steals and six assists, helped pick up the slack for point guard Kyetra Brown, who missed the tournament because of a sprained ankle.

“I thought we were going to lose,” said Tippie, who had 53 points and 48 rebounds in the Democrats’ two tournament victories. “I had to get the fight back in everybody so they would help out too.”

It took a power failure to stop Tippie in a nonconference game Friday against Carson. She had 25 points midway through the third quarter when the game was suspended after the lights went out in the Jefferson gym.

Chaka Smith, who had 11 points and 11 rebounds against Eagle Rock, and Helen Ruano were also selected to the all-tournament team for Jefferson. Smith also scored 13 points in Jefferson’s 63-46 win over Cleveland in the first round Wednesday.

Records: Eagle Rock 4-3; Jefferson 9-1.

FRIDAY’S GAMES:

Bell Gardens 44, El Rancho 32--Maria Bautista had 12 points and Diane Padilla had five assists for host Bell Gardens in a nonleague game.

Record: Bell Gardens 6-1.

San Diego Lincoln 55, Manual Arts 51--Tanisa Jones hit a 15-foot jump shot with three minutes to play to help Manual Arts close to 51-48, but the visiting Hornets scored four consecutive points to seal the victory.

Record: Manual Arts 2-2.

Pilgrim 75, Gateway Christian 57--Dawn Fields had 36 points in the Patriots’ nonleague victory at home. Fields also had 24 points and 18 rebounds in a 50-18 victory over Westside Prep Thursday.

Records: Gateway Christian 4-2; Pilgrim 3-3.

South Gate 75, Wilson 39--Michelle Gonzalez had a game-high 22 points and Ruby Maciel added 20 for the Rams in the championship semifinal of the Garfield tournament.

Letty Madrigal and Nancy Maciel added 13 and 12 points for South Gate, which defeated Grant, 69-38, in the first round Thursday.

Records: South Gate 4-1, Wilson 4-2.

Narbonne 54, Bell 41--Aracely Cordova had 18 points for Bell in the first round game of the Garfield tournament. The Eagles also lost to Franklin, 44-29, in the consolation semifinals Friday.

Wilson 59, Garfield 57--Brenda Argumaniz hit a five-foot jump shot with six seconds left to lift Wilson in the first round of the Garfield tournament.

Donna Gordon and Lupe Aguilera had 17 and 16 points respectively for Wilson, which trailed by as many as 14 in the third quarter.

Deena Duran had 17 points for Garfield, and Sandra Hinojosa and Sandra Blanco added 16 each.

Records: Wilson 4-1; Garfield 2-3.

WEDNESDAY’S GAME:

Huntington Park 53, Fairfax 35--Rosie Quinto had 22 points to help the Spartans to their first victory of the season in the first round of the Eagle Rock tournament.

Records: Huntington Park 1-3.