Lynwood Girls Travel to Sacramento, Greece

The Lynwood High girls’ basketball team was in Sacramento on Monday to receive proclamations from the Legislature honoring the Knights on their undefeated season.

The state champions recently returned from Greece, where they represented the United States in an international basketball tournament. More than 20 teams participated in the 10-day event, and Lynwood finished seventh, winning four of seven games.

The Knights were 33-0 this season and won CIF Southern Section and state Division I titles. Coach Ellis Barfield was named The Times’ South Coast coach of the year, and junior forward Timicha Kirby was Southern California player of the year.

In Greece, the Knights won three games in a row, then lost their next three.

“It was hard on the girls,” Barfield said. “We weren’t used to losing.”

Lynwood went home on a winning note by defeating a team from Belgium. Greece won the tournament.

Barfield said most entries in the tournament were all-star teams, and there was a lot at stake for the players.

“One of the players on another team (said) that they were told that if they did well in this tournament they would receive a scholarship and be taken care of for several years,” Barfield said.

The Knights were hampered by rules they were not used to. Only four personal fouls per player were permitted, not the five that is standard in most countries. That stalled Lynwood’s full-court press and many players fouled out. Guard Elana Adams, an All-South Coast selection, fouled out early in each game.

Although Lynwood did not win the tournament, the players benefited from seeing a part of the world they had only dreamed about.

Barfield said he gained valuable experience on the trip.

“The fun part was that once you hit the floor, no matter what the politics of your country, you were there to fight for your playing style,” he said.