There’s No Time Like Present for Narbonne

Harbor City Narbonne may not be the team it was a few years ago, but its 53-52 loss to Lynwood on Saturday -- Lenita Sanford’s two free-throws in the final minute were the difference -- is a good indicator that the Gauchos are still the team to beat in the City Section, and they could be poised to challenge for a run at the state title.

“Our rallying cry has been that right now, we’re not City champs,” said Coach James Anderson, whose team lost last year’s title game to Los Angeles Crenshaw, 52-50, denying Narbonne its fifth consecutive title. “That’s something we’re trying to build into the kids because we’re young. Some of our teams have been living off that Narbonne name, but we’re going into a new era, not because we’re rebuilding, but because we’re young.”

When the Gauchos (13-8) step on the court at 4 p.m. Wednesday against visiting Carson, Anderson said it will be the first time this season he has had his full squad.

Narbonne has been hurt by the extended absences of three point guards, junior Brittany Groves (lower back), freshman Reiko Thomas (hairline ankle fracture) -- both starters -- and freshman Danielle LeNoir (strained knee). Without them, it’s difficult to beat a team such as Long Beach Poly or Lynwood.

But without the guards, Narbonne led Poly by two points in the fourth quarter before junior Morghan Medlock, who is averaging 19 points and 15 rebounds, fouled out in what became a 47-33 loss.

Medlock and Pepperdine-bound senior guard Sherriel Boyd, who is averaging 16 points, six rebounds and four steals, have led the way this season for the Gauchos, whose losses have been to high-powered teams. The most embarrassing, a 53-25 drubbing by Redondo, came when Anderson benched his starters after about four minutes.

Groves, averaging six points and seven assists, doesn’t practice because of the recurring back problem and has been pain-free for about two weeks. Thomas, who has averaged 13 points and five assists, figures to emerge as one of the Southland’s top players as she matures.

The game Wednesday will also pit sister against sister; 6-foot-3 sophomore Ify Ibekwe of Narbonne is the younger sister of 6-4 senior Chinyere Ibekwe of Carson.

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Since its 55-52 upset of Newhall Hart, which ended the Indians’ Foothill League winning streak at 24 games, Valencia defeated Canyon Country Canyon, 48-40, and Palmdale, 48-44, in overtime.

“The preseason schedule made us a little stronger,” Coach Jerry Mike said. “We played some pretty good teams, but we’re still not as consistent as I want us to be.

“But, they’re figuring out ways to win, which is encouraging. Against Palmdale, in years past, we’d lose close games like that.”

Valencia has been led by Cal State Bakersfield-bound Kelley Tarver, who is averaging 15.8 points; Cal State Fullerton-bound point guard Daviyonne Weathersby, who stands only 5-3 but is averaging 12 points, and senior Brittany Sansone, who is averaging 11.8 points.

The rematch at Hart is Feb. 8.

“We need to prove over the last four games that we’re more consistent,” he said. “[But] we’re not such a great team that we can roll in and beat anybody. Hart beat us six straight. Just because we beat them once doesn’t mean we can cruise.”