Pluimer Steps Up, but Rest of Tritons Stumble

The line in the sand was drawn by Lindsey Pluimer, who showed no fear of Harbor City Narbonne in the first round the Southern California Regional playoffs.

The problem for San Clemente, though, was few of her teammates stepped up alongside her.

Pluimer turned in an inspired effort, but the freshman forward couldn’t hold off defending state champion Narbonne, a 77-51 winner in Division I girls’ basketball.

“Not everyone can hang in a game like this,” said Mary Mulligan, the San Clemente coach. “When you’re out-quicked and [not as physical], you do the best you can.”

The Tritons’ best was pretty good--for a while--on Narbonne’s home court.

The only reason they didn’t lead after one quarter was because Amber Fouse hit a three-point basket at the buzzer to give the Gauchos (25-3) an 11-10 lead.

In the second quarter, Narbonne made nine of 17 from the field, and no Triton other than Pluimer made a field goal.

Narbonne took a 36-23 lead into halftime. Pluimer was five for seven from the field at that point. She finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Her teammates were one for 15 in the first half. The only thing keeping San Clemente within striking distance was a 10-for-13 performance from the free-throw line.

“Once we got up at halftime, I thought we would win,” Narbonne Coach James Anderson said. “If we can get a lead, with our depth and athletic ability, you’re going to wear out before we wear out.”

Narbonne stretched its lead to 57-33 after three quarters, again making nine of 17 field goal attempts. Much of the fourth quarter was played by reserve players.

San Clemente (28-4), the Southern Section Division I-AA champion, loses only one senior next season. It committed 24 turnovers, and finished 18 for 51 from the field; Pluimer was eight of 11.

“[Narbonne] played a controlled, disciplined game, pounded the ball inside--there was nothing we could do,” Mulligan said. “You can’t press because of their quickness, you can’t zone because of their shooting.”

San Clemente junior guard Kim Buffum, who was two for four from the three-point line--her only shots--had 12 points, and sophomore guard Sara Brown scored 10.

Narbonne will have eight of the 10 players who regularly rotate into the lineup back next season. Junior Lisa Willis scored 19, and Tennessee-bound guard Loree Moore scored 10 and and had six steals, all in the first half. Depth? Eight Gauchos scored in the first half.

“Every single person on the court, all the way down their bench, was capable of scoring,” Buffum said. “Some of our shots would fall, and then they wouldn’t.

“We gave it our best.”