Alemany Shows Title Still Well-Guarded

Alemany High will go as far as All-Southern Section guards Kelli Kobayashi and Kate Beckler will take it.

A month ago, that was only to the brickyard, where the high-scoring pair combined for only 17 points in a 15-point loss to Mission League rival Harvard-Westlake.

“We were so embarrassed,” said Beckler, a sophomore. “After that, I had no pride. I felt terrible.”

On Friday night, the backcourt tandem was feeling good. Real good.

Beckler and Kobayashi combined for 56 points in a 73-53 Mission League rout of the Wolverines before a packed gym Friday night at L.A. Baptist High.

“We wanted to show everybody that we’re better than the way we played the first time,” said Kobayashi, a senior who scored 27 points, including six of six three-pointers.

Kobayashi, limited to only seven points in the first meeting, made nine of 13 shots.

Beckler, Alemany’s leading scorer with a 19.6 average, was equally impressive, scoring 29, including nine on three-pointers.

“Kelli was about as on fire as she could get,” Alemany Coach Melissa Hearlihy said. “That definitely opened things up for Kate.”

The pair was virtually unstoppable in the first half, combining for 37 points as Alemany led, 39-29.

Harvard-Westlake, ranked No. 5 in the region by The Times and No. 1 in the Southern Section Division III-A poll, trailed by as many as 25 points.

Neither Forward Omelogo Udeze, averaging a team-high 15 points, nor guard Brooke Porter, averaging 9.3, scored, missing 11 shots between them.

“I believe nerves had a lot to do with it,” Wolverine Coach Brian Taylor said. “We’re still young, but how much longer can we use that as an excuse?”

Harvard-Westlake’s woes extended to the free-throw line, where it missed its first 13 attempts and finished three of 17.

L’Tanya Robnett had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Wolverines, and Rolake Bamgbose added 14 points.

The victory leaves Alemany (18-6, 7-1 in league play) and Harvard-Westlake (19-5, 7-1) tied for the lead with two games left.

It is likely they will share the league title for the second consecutive season.

Alemany faces fourth-place Louisville and fifth-place Flintridge Sacred Heart next week; Harvard-Westlake meets Sacred Heart and sixth-place Chaminade.

If the Indians can finish the season with two victories, they will extend their streak of Mission League championships to six.

“We’ve never lost league in the four years I’ve been here,” Kobayashi said. “I wasn’t going to let it happen this year.”