Notre Dame Press Puts Squeeze on Lancaster

Notre Dame High used a balanced attack and a stifling full-court press to defeat Lancaster, 68-48, Friday in a pool-play at the Valencia girls’ basketball tournament.

Notre Dame will play Glendora in the championship game tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Christine Zahka and Judy Diaz each had 12 points for Notre Dame. Sheila Penn added 10 for the Knights (4-1), who defeated Valencia, 64-60, in overtime Thursday night.

“We had a little bit of a letdown after that emotional win last night,” Notre Dame Coach Keith Case said. “But we stepped it up in the second half.”

Notre Dame trailed, 12-11, after the first quarter, but recovered to take a 33-27 halftime lead.

The Knights opened the second half with 14 consecutive points to lead, 47-27.

Candace Kirnon scored 19 points and Courtney Hankamer added 14 for the Eagles (1-5), who committed 17 turnovers.

“Our game plan is to press for 32 minutes,” Case said. “If we do that, we’ll force some mistakes.”

Glendora 49, Littlerock 40--The Tartans (5-0) opened the game with a 20-5 run and led, 29-15, by halftime.

Julia Washington scored 22 points and had 12 rebounds for Glendora.

Carrie Miller had 10 points and seven steals for the Lobos (3-2).

“We could have played a little better, but our execution will improve as the season goes along,” Littlerock Coach Tom Hegre said. “I’m not disappointed with our effort at all.”

Glendale 52, Valencia 31--Pola Aghakhanians scored 16 points for the Dynamiters (4-2), who held Valencia to 12 points in the first half.

Glendale plays Littlerock for third place tonight at 6.

The Vikings (4-3) were playing without top scorer Tiffany Morgan, a 5-foot-9 junior forward who was sidelined by the flu.

“We have no one to guard her,” Glendale Coach Gerry Mike said of Morgan. “But because she didn’t play, we were able to use the full-court trap.”

Glendale’s pressure defense forced 27 Viking turnovers.

“This is the first time we’ve played against a man-to-man defense all season,” Viking Coach Greg Hayes said. ‘Obviously we didn’t handle it very well.”