Bell-Jeff Makes History With Buzzer-Beater

It was only a 15-foot jump shot, but it was much more than that.

Jaclyn Johnson’s buzzer-beating basket from the left of the free-throw line gave Bell-Jeff High a 47-45 victory over Cerritos Valley Christian in the Southern Section Division IV-A girls’ basketball championship game Friday at the Pyramid.

With it, Bell-Jeff celebrated its first section championship in any sport in its 52-year history.

It also ended Valley Christian’s five-year hold on the division title.

But, most importantly, it capped a tremendous season for a team that refused to accept anything less.

“Playing in a championship [game], it comes down to who wants it most,” said Bell-Jeff guard Felicia Flores, whose three-point basket at the start of the fourth quarter ignited a 10-2 run that gave the Guards the lead for good. “We really did work hard and now we have something to remember it by. I’m glad to be a part of history.”

The Guards (29-1) took a 45-37 lead on a three-point basket by Cheryl Flores with 4:05 to play. But the Crusaders (26-3) rallied with an 8-0 run to tie the score, 45-45, on a basket by Monique Toney with 24 seconds to play.

After a Bell-Jeff timeout, Cheryl Flores passed to an open Cindy Contero in the lane. Contero faked a shot that drew Johnson’s defender.

Contero then passed to a wide-open Johnson, who sprinted to the other end of the court before the ball went in.

“I knew it was in,” Johnson said. “I could feel it. I’ve been practicing that shot since I was little, counting down in my head.”

The Bell-Jeff bench stormed the court, following Johnson to the far baseline, and piled on their leader.

“We finally got it,” said Guard Coach Jim Couch. “There’s no better feeling than me looking at a dog pile of kids feeling success. These are the moments you coach for.”

Though Johnson leads Bell-Jeff in most statistical categories, the Guards have said all season that they are more than a one-player team. Friday, they proved it.

Johnson picked up her third foul two minutes into the second quarter and played only one more minute of the half.

Cheryl Flores scored 15 points and had four of the Guards’ nine steals. Forward Veronica Cobb had nine rebounds.

The Guards held Valley Christian without a basket for the entire time Johnson sat out.

When Johnson came back, it was her game.

She scrambled for loose balls and fought for rebounds. Johnson finished with 15 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, the majority coming in the second half.

“Cheryl and Felicia played the games’ of their lives defensively,” Couch said.

Sarah Middlebrook scored 12 of her 18 points in the first quarter for the Crusaders. She had only two baskets the rest of the game.

* PLAYING BIG: Alemany’s 5-foot-1 Kelli Kobayashi has helped the Indians into the Southern Section Division III-AA championship game. C12