GIRLS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Victory Moves Kennedy a Step Closer to Goal

They were two of the three teams that tied for second place in the Garden Grove League a year ago, so the importance of Wednesday’s league opener wasn’t lost on Santiago or Kennedy.

It especially wasn’t lost on host Kennedy, which scored a 48-36 victory, the first step toward dethroning Rancho Alamitos.

The Fighting Irish (8-5, 1-0) are digging in for the battle.

“The league is a lot more equal this year, and Rancho Alamitos is the team to beat, but someone will step up and beat them,” Kennedy Coach Karen Wolfe said. “Tonight was important because we accomplished 1/14th of our season goal.”

Wolfe and the Irish have their cross hairs set on the Vaqueros, who opened league play with a 75-36 victory over Los Amigos.

Santiago Coach Ron Heusser agreed that Rancho Alamitos is No. 1--for now. “Kennedy is going to be there,” he said. “Garden Grove and Kennedy are pretty equal. And Pacifica could be tough.”

Making every victory invaluable amid all that parity.

Kennedy’s victory came with a zone defense that pushed Santiago (4-8, 0-1) toward the outer reaches of its shooting range; the Cavaliers shot 18% in the first three quarters.

Sophomore Heather Cunningham led Kennedy with 12 points and nine rebounds, and sophomore Leslie Prochaska had nine points and 10 rebounds.

Santiago led, 6-4, against Kennedy’s pressure defense, but when the Irish went to the zone, Santiago’s shooting went in the tank: The Cavaliers went 6 minutes 25 seconds without a field goal and fell behind, 20-8.

Santiago closed to within six, 24-18, at halftime, but a 10-0 run opening the third quarter put the game away. Santiago made only one of 14 field goals in the quarter, a basket by Alejandra Torres, who had 10 points and nine rebounds. Cari Remmel had 10 points and eight rebounds for Santiago.