Narbonne Interrupts Ladycats’ Long Run in Brea Tournament

In the 20th Ladycat Classic, Brea Olinda did something it had never done before.

It lost.

The Ladycats were beaten by Harbor City Narbonne, 63-46, in Saturday’s championship game in front of about 1,000.

Narbonne (4-0), ranked No. 1 in the nation in some publications, is the favorite to win the state Division I title, and Brea is a good candidate to win its third consecutive Division II title. But neither team played like it.

“They were horrible,” Brea Coach Jeff Sink said of Narbonne, “and we were worse.”

Brea had to make the most out of virtually nothing. The Ladycats committed 25 turnovers, compared to Narbonne’s 20, and were outrebounded, 54-17.

Brea made 17 of 38 field goals, Narbonne 19 of 63.

Despite the disparity, Brea trailed by only four points, 38-34, with 2:39 left in the third quarter, and trailed by only eight with less than six minutes left in the game.

Chelsea Trotter scored a game-high 25 for Brea (7-1), but had only five rebounds. Jackie Lord’s three three-point baskets and Jill Trader’s six points accounted for the only other Ladycats who scored more than two.

The teams went back and forth in the first half, with Brea last holding the lead, 20-19, with 3:14 left before halftime.

Ebony Hoffman scored 16 and had 11 rebounds and Loree Moore had 12 points and nine rebounds for Narbonne.