Quartz Hill Scares Up 75-62 Victory

A bomb scare generally isn’t associated with relaxation, but don’t tell that to the Quartz Hill High girls’ track team.

On Tuesday, the Quartz Hill High office received a bomb threat. Administrators sent students home and canceled all events for the day--including track practice.

On Thursday, Quartz Hill defeated Palmdale, 75-62, in a chilly wind at Palmdale High to move into sole possession of first place in the Golden League. Rebel Coach Sharon DeShane said the unexpected day off was directly responsible.

“We’ve been plotting and planning for this meet all year,” said DeShane, whose team lost to Palmdale by two points last season. “By getting the day off we were able to relax a little bit instead of all getting together and talking about it some more. I think that helped.”

DeShane, however, was a bundle of nerves throughout.

She camped out in the scoring booth for the entire meet, remaining conspicuously silent. She said she usually patrols the track infield during meets but wanted to monitor the scoring in this meet--for good reason.

The winner of the Quartz Hill-Palmdale girls meet has gone on to win the Golden League dual-meet title for eight consecutive seasons. Palmdale has taken the last two, Quartz Hill the six before that.

According to Falcon Coach Steve Wilson, this will make nine.

“The Golden League has been decided,” Wilson said.

Quartz Hill (3-0, 3-0 in league meets) and Palmdale (2-1, 2-1) have two Golden League meets left but neither figures to be challenged.

Quartz Hill standouts Michelle Perry and Danielle Day each had the big day their team needed.

Perry, defending Southern Section Division I champion in the 100 and 300 hurdles, did not run the 100 hurdles on Thursday. She won the 100 meters in 12.08 seconds, the 300 hurdles in 46.67, and the long jump at 17 feet 10 inches.

However, it was a surprise appearance and victory in the 200 by Perry that gave the Rebels a 65-42 lead with three events remaining and clinched at least a tie.

Katie Ray of Quartz Hill won the 100 hurdles in 16.74 seconds.

“We knew we were pretty deep in the 100 hurdles, so I ran somewhere else where I could score more points,” Perry said. “Everyone’s been on edge all week, saying, ‘Don’t mess up your events, don’t scratch.’ I just wanted to do what I had to to win.”

Day won the 800 in 2:33.6 and the 1,600 in 5:41.5, then clinched the meet by winning the 3,200 in 11:53.

Palmdale won the boys’ meet, 113-12, but it was the girls’ meet that grabbed the attention.

“I was up at 4 a.m.,” Wilson said. “This was important to us because all the girls are good friends, but very competitive. It’s a great rivalry.

“I’m not glad we lost, but I’d much rather have a meet like this and lose than something not competitive.”