Huskies Take Big Bite Out of Burroughs

If the North Hollywood girls’ basketball team was looking for some respect, it came to the right place to earn it.

The Huskies advanced to the final of the Bell-Jeff tournament with a 65-54 victory over Burroughs on Friday night at Bell-Jeff.

The road to the final has included victories over Fillmore and Kennedy, both highly regarded programs in the area. The Huskies face Bell-Jeff, a team that has won its first three games by an average of 43 points, in tonight’s final at 8.

“I didn’t think anybody knew who we were,” North Hollywood Coach Rich Allen said.

The Huskies (11-2) scored 15 of their 25 fourth-quarter points from the free-throw line as they broke open a 40-37 lead after three quarters.

The teams shot 63 free throws.

“I like when games are like that,” Allen said. “We’re a 70% free-throw team.”

The Huskies didn’t quite reach that plateau, connecting on 22 of 38 for 57%, but made seven of 10 in the final minute.

Burroughs, which trailed, 31-20, at halftime, stifled the Huskies with its full-court defense and created eight third-quarter turnovers to take a 37-36 lead with 2:30 left in the third quarter.

But the Indians (8-5) scored just one point over the next five minutes as the Huskies, sparked by Tashean Thomas’ three steals at the beginning of the third quarter, regained control.

“We like to give away leads,” Allen said jokingly. “I don’t think we’re comfortable out front.”

Linsay Sotero-Higa scored 18 points for the Huskies and Thomas added 17.

Chantel Jiminez had 15 points for Burroughs.

Bell-Jeff 89, La Canada 38--Jaclyn Johnson had 28 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and five steals for the Guards.

Cheryl Flores added 21 points and had seven of Bell-Jeff’s 17 steals. Stacy Cobb had 11 points and 12 rebounds.

The Guards’ press helped create 40 turnovers, 27 in the first half, when Bell-Jeff built a 51-21 lead.

The Spartans were within 16-10 with 2:17 left in the first quarter after Nina Han and Terrie Doizaki hit consecutive three-pointers.

But Bell-Jeff ended the quarter with an 8-2 run.

Rebecca Jones had 17 points for La Canada.

Kennedy 59, Royal 54--Tammy Barber scored 16 points and Mona Calhoun added 14 for the Golden Cougars (11-3), who rallied from a five-point deficit in the fourth quarter of a consolation game.