BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Huskies Surprise the Cubs Early--and Hang On, 66-64

Visiting East Los Angeles College built a 19-point second-half lead and then held on for a 66-64 upset victory over Los Angeles City College in a Southern California Athletic Conference game Wednesday.

The Cubs, the state’s ninth-ranked team, missed three three-point baskets in the final eight seconds.

The Huskies led 41-27 at the half and stretched their lead to 50-31 with 15:17 remaining, allowing only one field goal in the first 14 minutes of the second half. However, East L.A. committed 22 fouls in the game, sending the Cubs to the free throw line 19 times alone in the second half.

LACC, which made 19 of 33 free throws, used a 12-point run to climb within 62-61 with 2:01 to play. East L.A.’s Alex Espinoza sank a pair of free throws and Jerrod Parrott made another to put the Huskies out front, 65-61, with 47 seconds remaining before Raheem Muhammad’s three-pointer cut it to 65-64 at 0:29.

Danny Barajas was fouled on the Huskies’ next possession with 14 seconds left. He made the front end of a one-and-one for a 66-64 lead but missed the second free throw. The Cubs drove down court but three three-point attempts bounced off the rim before time expired.

Henry Washington scored 17 points, 14 in the first half, to lead five East L.A. players in double figures. Barajas, Espinoza and David Ng had 12 each and Parrott added 11.

Stacy Thomas scored 14 and Derrick Higgins and Sai Tuialli had 11 each to lead LACC.

Records: East L.A. 7-17, 2-2; LACC 19-4, 2-1.

Trade Tech 78, East L.A. 69--James Wade had 14 points and 11 rebounds as the Beavers overcame a 14-point first-half deficit in the Southern California Athletic Conference game Friday at East L.A.

Trade Tech took its first lead, 64-62, on a basket by Greg McDowell with 5:39 left and then made 13 of 18 free throws in the final 3:16 to seal the win.

Henry Washington scored 23 and Danny Barajas had 13, including four three-point baskets, for East L.A.

Records: Trade Tech 15-12, 3-2; East L.A. 7-18, 2-3.

Cal State Los Angeles 71, Cal State Dominguez Hills 64--Forward Maritza Cruz said defense and rebounding were the keys to the victory Thursday, but her game-high 24 points also contributed to helping Cal State Los Angeles upset Cal State Dominguez Hills.

For most of the evening, CSLA would build a lead only to have CSDH whittle it away.

With 6:28 to go, the Golden Eagles’ lead ballooned as Cruz capped off seven consecutive points to put her team ahead 64-53.

Records: Cal State Dominguez Hills 11-9, 3-2 in conference; Cal State Los Angeles 4-11, 1-2.

HIGH SCHOOL-BOYS

Verbum Dei 96, Mary Star 57--Andre Miller scored 24 points and Jamal Cobbs added 23 as Verbum Dei won its fourth consecutive Santa Fe League game Friday night at Mary Star. “We’re playing really well,” Verbum Dei Coach Mike Kearney said. “We’ve got guys who can handle the break and score. Now our big guys are stepping forward and contributing.”

Records: Verbum Dei 15-2, 4-0; Mary Star 14-5, 3-2.

Bell Gardens 46, Alhambra 43--Dan Escobar made a layup with 46 seconds left to break a 43-43 tie and the Lancers held on to clinch a share of their third consecutive title in an Almont League game at Alhambra Thursday.

Eddie Santana scored nine of his game-high 17 points in the fourth quarter to propel Bell Gardens to its sixth victory in a row.

The Lancers, who trailed by 14 in the first quarter, overcame a 40-37 deficit with five minutes to play to take a 43-42 lead on a free throw by Santana with 3:06 left.

Records: Bell Gardens 17-5, 6-0; Alhambra 11-19, 2-4.

Bell Gardens 75, Schurr 63--The Lancers completed the first half of Almont League play undefeated, rebounding from a 13-point first-half deficit Tuesday at Bell Gardens.

Bell Gardens trailed 24-11 with six minutes left in the second quarter, but rallied to tie at 30. The Lancers scored the first four points of the second half to take the lead for good.

Dan Escobar had 22 points and George Gutierrez scored 15 to pace four players in double figures for Bell Gardens. Armando Coria and Pete Loza also scored 11 each.

Records: Schurr 5-12, 2-3; Bell Gardens 16-5, 5-0.

HIGH SCHOOL-GIRLS

Bell Gardens 46, Alhambra 44--The Lancers swept the season series against the Almont League tri-champions and ended a three-game losing streak Thursday at Alhambra.

Espy Landeros, who had 10 rebounds, sealed the victory on a layup for a 45-42 lead with 1:14 remaining and Monica Malagon added a free throw with 25 seconds left for the final margin.

Malagon scored 23 points and Christina Lopez dished out five assists for Bell Gardens.

The Moors closed to within a point three times, including to within 43-42 with less than two minutes to play, but never regained the lead.

Records: Bell Gardens 10-8, 3-3; Alhambra 10-9, 1-5.

Schurr 49, Bell Gardens 43--Monica Malagon had 19 points, including 15 of Bell Gardens’ 17 points in the second and third quarters, and Espy Landeros scored 12 but a late Lancer rally fell short Tuesday in the Almont League game at Bell Gardens.

Records: Schurr 12-8, 4-1; Bell Gardens 9-8, 2-3.