First Step for Norco Was Victory Over Troy

Norco’s motto this season is “unfinished business,” and the Cougars’ performance Thursday in the finals of the Murrieta Valley Nighthawk Classic indicates they may be ready to fulfill that promise.

A 66-62 double-overtime victory Thursday over Fullerton Troy -- Erika Arriaran scored 41 points -- ended Norco’s four-game losing streak to the Warriors and signaled the Cougars’ legitimacy as a major power in the Southland.

Coach Rick Thompson had wondered how his team would fare in the Southern Section Division I-AA playoffs -- the Cougars were in Division II-AA last season -- against Long Beach Poly, Lynwood and Newhall Hart.

The “unfinished business,” he said, was beating Troy and winning a section title. One down, one to go.

“It’s the best team we’ve beaten in 11 years,” he said, stopping short of calling it the best win in school history. “Nothing matched beating Riverside North to put us in the finals for the first time” last season.

Last season alone, Troy beat Norco three times: in the finals of the Nighthawk Classic, in the Division II-AA finals and in the state Division II Regional semifinals.

Two weeks ago at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona, Troy won two of three against nationally ranked opponents. The Warriors’ loss was 47-44 to Middle Village (N.Y.) Christ the King, which will be No. 1 in the next national rankings.

Arriaran called the victory over Troy the biggest of her career at Norco. “We finally got a chance to play them again and redeem ourselves, and make a name for ourselves,” said the Texas-bound point guard, who scored the first eight of her team’s nine overtime points.

Norco (13-0) moved to No. 2 this week, and Troy (12-2) dropped to No. 3.

Troy Coach Kevin Kiernan called Arriaran’s performance, which included eight rebounds and three assists, the best by an opponent in his nine seasons as coach. “What a player,” he said.

Norco plays host Thursday to No. 4 Fullerton Rosary (10-1), which has already lost to Troy, 52-33.

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The Southland’s best record belongs to La Puente Bishop Amat, which is 17-0 after beating Long Beach Wilson, 56-49, for the Chino Hills Ayala Best of the West title Friday.

“We’re getting better,” said Coach Richard Wiard, whose team is more athletic this season with Candice Brown, Christen Myles, Juanise Cornell and tournament most valuable player Jessica Carrera. “Our biggest improvement has been offensively, getting the ball inside to Juanise and Candice.”

The winning streak will be tested again when the Lancers play host to No. 17 Riverside North tonight in Bishop Amat’s new on-campus gym.

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Ayala Coach Mel Sims made a bold move after his team’s 67-28 loss Wednesday to Corona Centennial. He benched the seniors. He had four starting and another coming off the bench.

“They were beaten badly, they were missing open people, they didn’t have good attitudes, so I told them we’d get ready for next year,” Sims said. “Win or lose, we’re going to go with the young kids. They play hard.”

The decision reaped immediate rewards as freshman starters Rebekah Gardner, Jasmine Holliday and Roslyn Womble led the way to two victories, including an upset of Pasadena Muir, 50-47. Muir gets a rematch tonight at Ayala.