Peoples sparks Bell-Jeff to CIF rout
BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON HIGH-- The numbers were impressive, but that was
the last thing on the minds of the Bellarmine-Jefferson High girls’
basketball players when they faced visiting Downey Calvary Chapel in
the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division IVA playoffs.
The Guards were simply looking to advance, and they did just that,
rolling to a 69-34 victory Wednesday to move into the semifinal
round.
Bell-Jeff will take on L.A. Windward at 7:30 tonight in a
semifinal game at Brentwood High. Windward (21-2) defeated Huntington
Beach Brethren Christian, 56-33, Wednesday in its quarterfinal
contest.
“Our team definitely remembers the feeling,” Bell-Jeff Coach
Bryan Camacho said of losing to Windward last year in the second
round of the playoffs. “We’re going to be prepared. It’s going to be
intensified because the winner gets to go to the [Long Beach]
Pyramid.”
If the Guards do defeat Windward, they would get a chance to play
in their first CIF final game since 1997. Six years ago, a Jim
Couch-coached team featuring Jaclyn Johnson, won a championship.
Downey Calvary Chapel (15-14) never gave Bell-Jeff any serious
trouble after it scored the first basket of the game, a three-pointer
by Stephanie Anderson.
Bell-Jeff (22-4) senior Jennae Peoples continued to impress, as
she netted 12 points, seven steals, six rebounds and five assists in
the first half.
But with the Guards up, 46-18, at halftime, Camacho began to focus
on the semifinals and gave his bench players a chance to get some
playoff experience.
“Just winning and moving on is the most important thing,” said
Peoples, who played despite coming down with a sinus infection
Tuesday. “Whether I have 50 points or 10 points and 15 assists, as
long as we get the job done, [I’m happy]. If I have to score, I
score. If I have to pass, I pass. If they need me to rebound, I
rebound.”
Playing sparingly in the second half, Peoples finished with 19
points, nine steals, eight rebounds and seven assists. Most of her
assists were to junior Kelly Hobbs, who finished with 16 points.
The Guards dominated Calvary Chapel on the defensive end, holding
the Grizzlies without a field goal for 18:01, a span that extended
from midway through the second quarter until late in the fourth
quarter.
Bell-Jeff’s depth was also impressive. Theresa Reyes came off the
bench and finished with six points and 10 rebounds and Camille
Napolitano, another reserve, had three points and seven rebounds.
Although the Guards rolled to an easy victory, they know every
game from now will be tough.
“You can’t get too comfortable with anyone,” Peoples said. “I
think we know them [Windward] pretty well from last year. But we
can’t expect to see the same team from last year. I told the girls,
this game is revenge.”
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BOX SCORE
*--*
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Calvary Chapel 8 10 2 14 -- 34
Bell-Jeff 20 26 14 9 -- 69
*--*
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CALVARY CHAPEL
Butler 6, Anderson 4, Miller 2, Islander 1, Chattem 8, Eccles 6,
Bellinger 3, Miyahara 2, Garrison 2. * Three-pointers: Chattem 2,
Butler, Miller
BELL-JEFF
Peoples 19, 9 steals, 8 rebounds and 7 assists, Hobbs 16, Coronado
10, Morgan 4, J. Van Dyke 2, T. Reyes 6, 10 rebounds, K. Van Dyke 6,
Napolitano 3, 7 rebounds, Campos 3. * Three-pointers: Peoples 4,
Coronado 2
*--*