Rebels win in All-Star action

The Running Rebels, a girls’ sixth-grade all-star team from South

Huntington Beach, won all four of its games in postseason play to win

their division in the National Junior Basketball Tournament.

South Huntington Beach defeated El Toro (30-7), Aliso (30-10),

Newport Mesa (52-46) and Rancho Santa Margarita (35-31) en route to

the title.

The final game, against a taller and more physical Rancho Santa

Margarita squad, matched up a pair of 3-0 tournament teams.

Rancho Santa Margarita opened the game with an 11-0 run and still

led, 20-7, at the half.

But the Running Rebels rallied in the second half to outscore

their opponents 28-11, behind a pressure defense that created

turnovers and scoring opportunities.

Christina Marquette led the Running Rebels with 10 points,

including a huge three-point basket in the final quarter.

Kelsey Cunningham scored seven points, Danielle Miller had six,

Jody Hwang scored five points to go along with 14 rebounds and

Danielle Ward scored her five points from the free throw line.

Erica Hersh, Liana Hersh and Kelsea Hann played big on the inside,

Devon Shinn had several steals and played solid defense on the

perimeter and Amber Barrera also played strong defensively.