Tall Story, Book Two, at Harvard-Westlake

Big girls, the song says, don’t cry.

But all this fuss over the boys’ basketball team at Harvard-Westlake High is enough to make members of the Wolverine girls’ team twist and shout.

Enough about twin towers Jarron and Jason Collins, who have led Harvard-Westlake to a state title and national prominence. Time to trumpet the Wolverines’ “triplet towers.”

Although they’re not related, centers Omelogo Udeze and Rolake Bamgbose--both 6 feet--and 6-1 forward Carissa Abbott provide the Wolverines with a size advantage few teams enjoy. Add to the mix 5-11 forward Christine Bohle and it’s not difficult to see why Harvard-Westlake is riding high with a 12-5 record.

But who’s noticing?

“There’s no question there is a feeling here that the girls’ basketball program is not taken seriously,” first-year Coach Brian Taylor said. “Some people laugh at us: ‘You want to be like the boys?’ We want to change that.”

Big things are happening so far. Udeze, a sophomore, had 14 points and 16 rebounds Tuesday in a 61-44 victory over Louisville in a Mission League opener. She is averaging 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Abbott, a junior, is averaging five points and five rebounds. Bamgbose, a freshman, is averaging seven points and seven rebounds.

“Carissa is not our post-up person, she’s more of a wing,” Taylor said. “Omelogo and Rolake are interchangeable at center.”

Someday, like the Collines, maybe they’ll all be centers of attention.