Bell-Jeff waits too long to get offense rolling, 34-28
Charles Rich
Their offenses were polar opposites.
On the first day of summer league competition, the Crescenta
Valley and Bellarmine-Jefferson high girls’ basketball teams mixed
and matched offensive creativity. The idea being to find a successful
formula to implement for the regular season in late November.
CV reverted back to an old formula Thursday, as star junior guard
Jeanine Deno scored a game-high 16 points to lead the Falcons to a
34-28 victory in a Glendale High School Varsity Summer League game.
The Falcons turned to Deno -- who averaged 17.7 points per game
and earned first-team All-Pacific League honors last season -- to
help built a comfortable lead and hold off a late offensive surge by
the Guards.
“Deno got it done for us and she’ll be even better this year,” CV
Coach Bruce Breeden said. “Now we need to develop a cast around her.
She’s our lone returning starter and some of the other players have
very little varsity experience.”
It might have been difficult for Bell-Jeff Coach Bryan Camacho to
comprehend the Falcons lacking experience. He had his own set of
problems to comb through.
The Guards didn’t score until midway through the first half and
were lackadaisical with their passing and transition game.
Camacho poignantly dissected Bell-Jeff’s woes. Particularly in the
first half, when the Guards scored a meager seven points.
“We weren’t patient enough,” Camacho said.
“Our shot selection wasn’t there and it was a case of individuals
trying to create too much. We’re not staying within the confines of
our offensive system.
“Then we started to get some loose balls and create turnovers. We
got CV out of rhythm.”
Bell-Jeff senior guard Jennae Peoples, the Camino Real League Most
Valuable Player, found her rhythm early in the second half. Peoples,
who averaged 18.1 points and 11.3 rebounds per game last season,
produced five points and four steals to help the Guards cut CV’s lead
to 30-26 with three minutes left.
The Guards -- who were third in the Camino Real League last season
-- struggled at the free-throw line, making six of 12 shots in the
second half.
Along with the Glandale summer league, the Guards will also play
in a league at Burroughs as well as tournament games throughout the
Summer. The Guards will also host the annual Bell-Jeff Summer Hoop
Fianle in late August.
BOX SCORE
CV 19 15 --
34
Bell-Jeff 7 21 --
28
CV -- Deno 16, Belou 8 and 7 rebounds, Veluz 3 and 4 assists,
Whisman 3, Allameh 2, Corrigan 2.
Three-pointers: Deno 2, Belou 2, Veluz, Whisman.
Bell-Jeff -- Reyes 8, Peoples 5 and 4 steals, Hobbs 4, Morgan 4,
Olague 4, J. Van Dyke 3.