DIVISION III GIRLS : Rancho Alamitos Learns Top-Seeded Morningside Is for Real

You can’t coach heart, and you can’t coach height. And in basketball, heart will only take you so far. At some point, reality kicks in.

Inglewood Morningside, the top-seeded team in the Division III Southern California Regional girls’ playoffs, welcomed visiting Rancho Alamitos to the real world, scoring a 73-61 first-round victory Tuesday night.

Morningside (27-2) advances and Rancho Alamitos ends the season at 25-6.

“Before the game, I didn’t think we had a chance,” Vaqueros Coach Bob Becker said, “but I thought we could sneak up and take it away from them during the game.”

Becker’s revelation came with 6 minutes 14 seconds left in the game. Morningside point guard Kameisha Prewitt (11 points) was on the bench with her fourth foul, the Rancho Alamitos press had just produced a turnover and Akilah Rodgers (13 points, 10 rebounds) was at the free-throw line with a chance to cut the deficit to eight.

But Rodgers missed both free throws. A minute later, same situation but with Lisa Inomata at the line, another opportunity trickled off the rim.

It was typical of the Vaqueros’ shooting. They made only 11 of 30 free throws.

Morningside answered with a 6-0 run to make it 67-51 and dispel thoughts of an upset.

“I thought we had superior talent,” Morningside Coach Roderick Tatum said. “It was just a question of time.”

Timerie James led the Vaqueros with 28 points and nine rebounds. She had three three-point baskets and made three of four from the line.

“During the game we got intimidated by their height and their strength and aggressiveness,” James said. “We never got that run to bring us back. When we were down by 10, I really thought we had a chance to win.”

Rancho Alamitos couldn’t overcome its size disadvantage--nearly five inches per starter--and was outrebounded, 54-32.

USC-bound Tina Thompson (6 feet 2) scored 15 points and had 22 rebounds for Morningside; Cha-Ron Walker (5-11) had 16 points.