Quinn’s Big-Game Performances Come With Little Hype
Noelle Quinn of Torrance Bishop Montgomery is the girls’ version of LeBron James, except without the hype.
She entertains with no-look passes and length-of-the-court drives. She takes over games at critical moments and does whatever is needed to succeed. And she wins championships, again and again.
On Saturday at Arco Arena, in her final high school game, Quinn helped the Knights win their fourth consecutive state Division III championship with a 49-43 victory over San Francisco Sacred Heart Cathedral. Her final statistics were vintage Quinn: 27 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, two steals, one blocked shot.
In the fourth quarter, when Bishop Montgomery’s lead was cut to 35-34 and Sacred Heart Cathedral fans were getting excited, Quinn hardly blinked.
“I wasn’t concerned at all,” said Quinn, who responded by scoring 10 of Bishop Montgomery’s 14 fourth-quarter points. Sacred Heart never had a chance.
“When in doubt, she’ll take the team on her shoulders,” teammate Whitney Warren said. “She’s done it throughout the playoffs.”
Quinn scored on a post move, on a 15-foot jump shot, on an offensive rebound. She scored after eluding a double team in the backcourt before driving down the lane and avoiding two more defenders.
All from a 6-foot senior who has the versatility and skills to play guard, forward or center. And it wasn’t her best performance. She made only 11 of 23 shots. She even tired while playing 32 minutes.
But her presence provides a calming influence on teammates. They trust her completely and know she’ll find a way to deliver.
“She kept our poise and composure,” Coach Lisa Cooper said.
Sacred Heart Cathedral Coach Brian Harrigan knew Quinn could shoot, dribble, rebound and pass. What made him a true believer in Quinn was seeing her reaction when good passes she made were dropped out of bounds by teammates.
“A lot of people would have been frustrated,” Harrigan said. “She never once got frustrated or didn’t smile. She just played.”
Quinn gives her teammates the first chance to complete a task. “Everyone has to contribute, but if I see no one is getting the job done, I feel I have to do it,” she said.
Quinn qualifies to be a tour guide for this city since she routinely visits each March to collect a championship banner.
“I’m kind of familiar with Sacramento,” she said. “It’s like an honor to be back again. To win is like a storybook ending.”
Now it’s time for Quinn to start preparing for her transition to the college game, where she’s expected to become an important player as a freshman at UCLA.
“She knows one thing and that’s winning,” UCLA Coach Kathy Olivier said. “I would not trade her for anybody, and I truly mean that. She is special. She’s one of a kind as a basketball player and one of a kind as a person.”
For Quinn, high school has been fun, but college offers a new challenge.
“I’m very excited,” she said. “I love high school. I love what we’ve done, but I think I’m ready for the next level.”
It’s going to be difficult for Cooper to say goodbye.
“No, we’re not going to let her go,” she said. “It really hasn’t hit me yet. She’s such a great player and person. Her smile can change you from a gloomy day to a sunny day.”
Quinn isn’t complaining that ESPN doesn’t televise her games and shoe companies aren’t lined up to offer her millions of dollars like James.
“I don’t mind not getting that much attention,” she said.
Give it time, because the day is coming when Quinn will be recognized nationally as the player she has become.
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LaVerne Thenarse of Los Angeles became the first female referee to work a state boys’ championship basketball game when she was one of the officials Saturday in the Division IV final.
She has refereed women’s and girls’ games for 20 years and started working boys’ games this season.
“They have to believe after 20 years of officiating this girl knows something,” she said. “I had so much fun. I’ve worked hard to be where I’m at.”
Eric Sondheimer can be reached at
