GIRLS’ BASKETBALL SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION III-AA : Alemany Staggered by Early Onslaught

The time between Morningside High center Tina Thompson’s feeling that the Monarchs would beat Alemany and the time it became apparent to everybody else differed only slightly.

“I knew we were going to win when I stepped onto the floor,” said Anthony, who had 25 points and 10 rebounds in Morningside’s 71-60 victory over the Indians in the Southern Section Division III-AA championship Saturday at Loyola Marymount.

Alemany fell hopelessly behind, 22-1, with 57 seconds remaining in the first quarter, and Morningside cruised to its fifth Southern Section championship in six years.

“I’ve never been outscored 22-1 in my career,” said Alemany Coach Melissa Hearlihy, in her eighth season as the Indians’ coach.

Alemany (25-5), the defending II-A champion, was overmatched against the Monarchs (28-2), whose four previous titles came at the highest level divisions (4-A, 5-AA and I-AA) before they dropped down to III-AA this season based on their school enrollment.

“I knew at the beginning of the year that they were going to be the team to beat in this division,” Hearlihy said.

Monarch point guard Kameisha Prewitt scored 11 points in the first-quarter blitzkrieg, and had 14 points, three assists, five steals and no turnovers in the first half.

Alemany, which had 14 points, one assist and 18 turnovers in the half, was savaged by Morningside’s full-court press.

“We had trouble getting the ball up the floor,” Hearlihy said. “Once we got the ball past their first line, we were able to do all right.”

“We knew we were quicker than they were,” Morningside Coach Roderick Tatum said. “We had more foot speed, and we didn’t think they would be able to stay with us.”

Alemany did salvage a respectable final score by outscoring the Morningside reserves, 32-20, in the fourth quarter.

Alemany forward Zevette Mitchell had a team-high 22 points, and freshman center Carly Funicello added 13 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Samantha Rigley had 14 points and four assists.

Alemany was left hoping for a second chance against Morningside in the state playoffs that begin next week.

“It’ll be a whole new game then,” Rigley said.

“They’re beatable,” Mitchell said. “If we just could have come out focused in the beginning.”