Bishop Amat Wins Ayala Tournament

Playing well at both ends of the floor, La Puente Bishop Amat won its 17th consecutive game by defeating Long Beach Wilson, 56-49, Friday night in the Elite Division championship game of the Chino Hills Ayala girls’ basketball tournament.

It was the second year in a row that the two teams met in the Ayala finals. Bishop Amat won the title last season by ending Wilson’s 12-game winning streak.

Wilson led in the early stages of Friday’s game, 9-7, when Bishop Amat (17-0) went on a 7-0 run. It was sparked by Jessica Carrera’s three-point shot. Wilson pulled to within one, 23-22, when Neka Mixon made her fifth shot in six attempts.

But Mixon made only one of her next seven shots, and Bishop Amat went on a 17-6 run, with Carrera’s 40-footer at the end of the third quarter pushing the lead to 40-28.

“We didn’t play offense for 3 1/2 quarters,” said Wilson Coach Paula Clear, who picked up a technical foul with 2 minutes 12 seconds left and the Bruins trailing, 47-41.

Carrera, who had nine points, made the two free throws and Candice Brown delivered inside for the Lancers, who led 51-41 with 2:04 left.

“We didn’t run the offense,” said Mixon, who finished with 21 points on eight-of-19 shooting.

Sheila Ho-Ching had 17 points to lead Wilson (11-3). She and Mixon combined for 13-of-34 shooting. The rest of the team made four of 12 shots.

“More people have got to be involved on offense,” Mixon said.

It was a stark contrast to Bishop Amat, which zipped passes around the half-court offense and made 22 of 46 shots. Juanise Cornell scored 16 points and Brown had 15 to lead the Lancers.

“The last couple of games we’ve run the offense really well,” Cornell said. “We get the ball inside, and it opens up the outside for our shooters.”

Martin Henderson

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Sophomore Arielle McClellan had 26 points, five rebounds, five assists and six steals to lead Los Angeles Jordan (11-3) to the Garden Grove girls’ basketball tournament title with a 79-41 victory over Santa Ana Saddleback (9-4).

McClelland was selected the tournament’s most valuable player. Teammate Raquel Washington, a junior center, finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots against Saddleback and was selected to the all-tournament team. Cynthia Lete had 17 points for Saddleback.