Buena Freshmen Provide Spark in Win Over Crenshaw

In the hierarchy of high school team sports, freshmen usually are not supposed to attract much attention--except when there is equipment to be carried. And it is definitely not their place to step to the fore in the state playoffs.

But somewhere along the way, longtime Buena High girls’ basketball Coach Joe Vaughan forgot to relay this fundamental doctrine to freshmen guards Kori Sebek and Eboni Conley.

Along with junior forward Michelle Giordano, Conley and Sebek were integral parts of an 11-0 run late in the fourth quarter that helped the Bulldogs defeat Crenshaw, 60-52, Thursday night in the semifinals of the Southern California Division I regional tournament at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Buena (25-3) will play Lynwood, a 62-59 winner over Thousand Oaks, in the other semifinal, in the Division I regional championship Saturday at the Sports Arena.

The winner will advance to the state championships in Oakland. Buena is shooting for its third state title. Crenshaw, the City Section 4-A Division champion, finished 24-3.

Buena trailed, 48-43, with 3 minutes 30 seconds to play when the trio went to work. Giordano--who had game highs of 28 points and 11 rebounds--cut the lead to 48-46 with a three-point play.

The Cougars committed a turnover on their next possession and fouled Buena guard Amanda Falls. Falls made her first free throw but missed the second. However, Conley (12 points) was able to sneak in for the offensive rebound and layup, which gave the Bulldogs a 49-48 lead.

Sebek then stole the ball and drove the length of the floor for an electrifying layup. Sebek was fouled on the play and made the free throw to give Buena a 52-48 lead with 1:52 to play. They were the only points she scored--but none were more important.

“That play was the big turnaround in the game,” Vaughan said. “Kori made a great play and then also made the free throw, which gave us a big spark.”

Pressed to score quickly, Crenshaw continuously turned the ball over in the waning moments. Giordano’s layup off a bullet pass from Conley gave Buena a 54-48 lead with 44 seconds to play.

“Well, they both are freshmen but they sure didn’t play like it,” Vaughan said of Conley and Sebek. “They played great down the stretch.”

Crenshaw senior guard Cathleen Grice had 20 points, 10 steals and eight assists, but it was not enough.

“Their coach always has them ready to play,” Crenshaw co-Coach Major Dennis said. “You just can’t make mistakes against a good team like Buena.”