Eagles Find Something to Retain From Loss

Christy Ring, Calvary Chapel’s 5-foot-4 point guard, admitted that she was a bit scared going into Saturday’s Southern Section Division IV-AA girls’ basketball final.

The second-seeded Eagles were playing Playa del Rey St. Bernard, the state’s top-ranked team in the division, and its reputation as a quick, aggressive team preceded it.

That’s what Ring knew going in.

Afterward, Ring and her teammates were a little more fearless.

Although St. Bernard won, 57-52, taking its second consecutive title and fifth in the 1990s, the final outcome may not have been as important in the long run for the Eagles as the ultimate result.

“I didn’t know how good we were until we played this team,” Ring said.

Calvary Chapel Coach Russ McClurg put it another way, looking ahead to this week’s Southern California Regional tournament, which determines one of two teams that will play for the state title.

“Going into next week,” McClurg said, “I feel we can play with the best.”

They can. Suddenly, state title hopes don’t seem so farfetched. Calvary Chapel (24-6) led by 11 points in the third quarter and by 10 after a possession in the fourth.

That’s when St. Bernard (25-2), which outscored Calvary Chapel in the fourth quarter, 20-7, began its comeback.

Calvary Chapel led, 47-40, when backup forward Heather Allsopp (four rebounds) fouled out with 5 minutes 40 seconds left in the game. Junior Cathy Joens (18 points, six assists), who had picked up her fourth foul at 6:07, also left the game.

St. Bernard’s full-court pressure intensified and McClurg put Joens back in 38 seconds later, after Katrina Lyles’ layup off a turnover made it 47-42.

Shannon Howell buried a three-point basket, then Joens--38 seconds after reentering--fouled out on what St. Bernard Coach Felicia Simon called “a ticky-tack” open-court charging call.

Howell immediately made another three-point basket off the turnover, and 15 seconds later, she made another.

In all, St. Bernard scored 14 consecutive points to take a 51-47 lead as Calvary Chapel rushed some of its shots and committed defensive breakdowns.

Howell, a 5-8 sophomore and 49% three-point shooter, made five three-point baskets and scored 22 against Calvary Chapel’s 1-3-1 zone.

Simon, a first-year coach, called Joens’ fourth foul the key.

“That’s when we had to turn it on,” she said. “Joens is a great player and she’s not going to play easy. I told them, wherever No. 11 is, get close to her and call for the ball.”

Though Ring drove for a basket and freshman Shayna Fabre made an 18-footer to cut the deficit to 52-51 with 2:37 left in the game, the Eagles didn’t have enough to overcome a taller, quicker team.

Ring, one of three seniors, scored 13 points and had six steals. The Eagles made 18 of 34 field-goal attempts going into the fourth quarter before going three for 10. St. Bernard was 16 of 47.

Senior guard Erica Waetjen had three three-pointers and scored 11 for Calvary Chapel.