GIRLS’ BASKETBALL SIMI VALLEY TOURNAMENT : Newbury Park Keeps Alemany at Bay, 56-48

A new girls’ basketball season begins next week at Alemany High.

“We have three days off for Christmas and the winning starts after that,” said Samantha Rigley after her nationally ranked Indians fell to Newbury Park, 56-48, in the championship game of the Simi Valley tournament Friday night at Rancho Santa Susana Community Center.

Alemany (7-1) is ranked second in the state and 13th in the nation, and had won 30 consecutive regular-season games over the past two seasons.

Newbury Park was no David to Alemany’s Goliath, however.

The Panthers entered ranked 10th in the state and their only loss came in a Buena tournament semifinal three weeks ago--to the Indians, 44-33.

Newbury Park center Kara McKeown scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half as the Panthers built leads of as many as 14 points.

That was familiar territory for Alemany, the two-time defending tournament champion. The Indians came from behind to beat Newbury Park on Dec. 9, and it looked like Rigley (17 points) would lead them to another thrilling finish.

Alemany rebounded to win that one, 44-33, on its way to the Buena championship.

This time, however, the Panthers had all the answers.

Reserve Amy Berman scored 12 points, including a crucial three-point shot late in the third quarter after Alemany had closed the margin to 41-39.

Tournament most valuable player Julie Wastell scored 10 points and pulled down eight rebounds, while teammate Jann Thorpe added 11 points.

“We don’t have any superstars,” McKeown said of the Panthers’ balanced attack. “It’s hard to stop a team with eight great players.”

But Newbury Park (12-1) accomplished just that in defeating a team that won the Southern Section Division 2-AA title last season.

Carly Funicello, Alemany’s standout junior center, scored 13 points but sat out nine minutes in the second half with four fouls.

Kelly McKay, an All-Southern Section choice last season along with Rigley and Funicello, scored six points.

Alemany Coach Melissa Hearlihy was philosophical afterward.

“I’m not happy we lost,” Hearlihy said. “But it may have been what we needed at this point, just to let us know we have to work harder and can’t just walk onto the court and win.”

McKeown scored 10 of her points in the first half as the Panthers ran out to a 35-28 lead at intermission.