El Camino Real Finds Reason to Cheer, 56-51

Emotions ran as high as the stakes as the El Camino Real High School girls’ basketball team defeated Chatsworth, 56-51, in overtime in a West Valley League finale Friday at El Camino Real.

The victory gave El Camino Real a piece of its third consecutive league title.

It also forced Chatsworth (18-5, 9-1), ranked No. 7 in the region by the Times, to settle for a share of its first championship since the 1995-96 season.

“It’s satisfying because Chatsworth as a school hasn’t done this in [four] years,” said Coach Raquel Alotis of Chatsworth.

“But at the same time, it’s disappointing because this was our opportunity to try to go undefeated in league. We really wanted this for ourselves.”

Unranked El Camino Real (18-6, 9-1) experienced no mixed feelings.

“I am stoked,” El Camino Real Coach Lori Chandler said. “I could not be prouder of the girls.

“If we did what we needed to do and played the way we were capable of, I knew we could win, and I really believed that in my heart.”

The game was not for the fainthearted.

The only time either team was ahead by more than six points was with a minute to go in the third quarter, when the Conquistadores took a 38-31 lead on a basket insideby Aubree Smithey.

That edge was gained largely because of the hot hand of guard Christina Aguinaga, who finished with 30 points, including 20 after halftime.

She made 11 of 24 shots, most from long range. She was six of nine on three-point tries, and all nine of her third-quarter points came from outside.

The efforts of Aguinaga, who averages almost 20 points a game to lead City Section players in the region in scoring, were crucial forthe Conquistadores to avenge a 53-43 loss to Chatsworth on Jan. 26.

“I wanted revenge,” said Aguinaga, who had six rebounds.

“We practiced so hard for this game. We just said from the get-go that we had to step it up.”

El Camino Real trailed, 12-6, after the first quarter, 22-20 at halftime and was behind, 28-23, with 5:15 to play in the third period.

The Conquistadores rallied with a 15-5 spurt that included three three-pointers, one by Karen Shun (11 points) and two by Aguinaga.

But like most other leads in the game, El Camino’s Real’s 38-33 advantage was wiped out.

The teams were tied three times in the fourth quarter, going to overtime when Aguinaga scored on a dribble-drive through the lane with 5 seconds left.

She scored five of the Conquistadores’ nine points in overtime.