Johnson Cracks Walnut, Powers Bell-Jeff, 59-40

Jaclyn Johnson did an inside job on Walnut High.

The 6-foot-2 senior center had 35 points and 19 rebounds to lead Bell-Jeff to a 59-40 victory in the semifinals of the La Puente girls’ basketball tournament Tuesday at La Puente High.

The Kansas-bound Johnson made 15 of 18 shots, most from the inside.

Bell-Jeff (9-1), the sixth-ranked team in The Times’ regional poll, will play La Puente in the championship game at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Felicia Flores had five points and seven assists for the Guards, who led throughout.

Walnut trailed, 16-15, after the first quarter, but the Mustangs had no one to contend with Johnson inside and fell further behind as the game wore on.