Alemany Steals Away With a Win

Robin Hood. Bonnie and Clyde. The Alemany High girls’ basketball team?

All would make the list of prolific thieves with absolutely no conscience.

Through two games, the Indians have 58 steals and caused 68 turnovers. And that’s without weapons.

On Wednesday night, Hart was a 65-50 victim in the first round of pool play at the Buena tournament.

Usually sure-handed Hart (2-1) couldn’t keep pace with the region’s No. 3 team, a group with only one player taller than 5-foot-9, but a team with speed to burn.

“Height-wise, we basically have nothing,” said 5-8 guard Kate Beckler, who had 20 of her 23 points in the first half and finished with 10 of her team’s 30 steals. “But we’ve busted our butts in practice to make up for it.”

The result is a fast-paced, full-court team.

“I don’t think we’ve ever been this quick across the entire lineup,” said Coach Melissa Hearlihy of Alemany (2-0).

Coach Dave Munroe of Hart couldn’t argue.

“This is definitely the best defensive team Alemany has had in many, many years,” said Munroe, who has won 200 games in 10-plus seasons by stressing defense. “We broke their press once in a while, but for every time we did, it seemed they took it away from us six times.”

When it wasn’t the Rice-bound Beckler picking Hart’s pockets, it was usually her sophomore sister, Kelly.

Kelly Beckler came off the bench to contribute seven steals and 14 points. Nyasha Bralock added 13 points and six rebounds.

Briana Brigandi had 12 points and Amy Mallon added 10 for Hart (2-1).

In other Buena tournament games:

Newbury Park 54, Camarillo 44--Bridgett Harris scored 14 points for the No. 4 Panthers (1-0), who overcame a 29-21 halftime deficit with a 15-2 run in the third quarter.

Lauren Ferreira had 14 points for Camarillo (1-1).

Buena 86, Highland 49--Kelly Greathouse had 32 points and 11 rebounds and Courtney LaVere had 18 points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots the Bulldogs (2-0), ranked No. 1 in the region and seventh in the nation.

Ventura 81, Santa Clara 37--Sophomore Jenni Dooley came off the bench to score 21 points, including 15 on three-pointers, and Alex Jientke added 18 for the No. 2 Cougars (1-0).

Ashley Biggins had 17 points and 15 rebounds for Santa Clara (0-3).