El Camino Real Contains Cosby by Ganging Up

Jessica Cosby of Cleveland High has proved time and again she can do it all.

The problem is she can’t do it alone.

El Camino Real illustrated that fact with an outstanding team effort, defeating Cleveland, 75-56, in a Northwest Valley Conference opener Wednesday at El Camino Real.

Four starters scored in double figures for the Conquistadores (12-4), who were never threatened after the first quarter.

Senior Cara Blumfield led the attack with 24 points and Christina Aguinaga scored 21.

Cosby, a junior forward who leads area City Section players in scoring (23.3) and steals (5.7), managed 20 points and 10 rebounds despite El Camino Real’s concentrated effort to double-team her.

Coach Lori Chandler of El Camino Real feared her team might fall victim to Cosby’s athleticism.

“She’s just a phenomenal player. She is pretty much unstoppable,” Chandler said. “[But] she did not have her way in this game. It wasn’t the Jessica Cosby show.”

The Conquistadores put on a pretty good show of their own, forcing 21 turnovers with tenacious defense and pounding the ball inside offensively.

El Camino Real jumped to a 10-2 start and never let Cleveland back in the game. Aguinaga’s layup midway through the second period extended the Conquistadores’ lead to 28-14. A 10-2 run in the final two minutes of the period gave El Camino Real a commanding lead at halftime, 38-20.

Cleveland (7-4) began the third quarter in a zone press that appeared to shake El Camino Real. The Cavaliers forced four turnovers in the first two minutes to form a 10-2 run and pull within 40-30. But that was as good as it got for Cleveland.