Los Amigos girls' basketball beats Rancho Alamitos to clinch playoff berth

Los Amigos' Amber Rangel (3) drives in for a layup against Rancho Alamitos on Thursday.

By Andrew TurnerStaff Writer

Feb. 4, 2022 3:02 PM PT

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GARDEN GROVE — When it comes to the phrase, “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” the Los Amigos High School girls’ basketball team would probably back it wholeheartedly.

After an 0-13 start to the season, the Lobos qualified for the CIF Southern Section Division 5A playoffs on Thursday when they picked up a victory in a winner-take-all regular season finale.

Los Amigos defeated host Rancho Alamitos 40-29, clinching third place in the Garden Grove League to punch its ticket to the postseason.

Amber Rangel scored 15 points to go with nine rebounds to lead Los Amigos (7-18, 5-5 in league), which is headed to the playoffs for the first time under fifth-year head coach Nate Werdel. The Lobos last made the playoffs in 2017, the final season under then-head coach Sabrina White and a team that was led by skillful center Cheryl Caldera.

Los Amigos' Moriela Gallardo (4) drives through the paint on a fastbreak for a layup.

“Being in the background of teaching, there’s nothing better than to watch your students, whether or not it’s in the classroom or right out here on the basketball court, execute what you were teaching,” said Werdel, who is a science teacher on campus. “Even if we didn’t make CIF, as long as I continue to see them rise … and execute and do what I tell them to do, that’s a winner in my book. I couldn’t be any prouder of those girls for what they’ve done over the last 10 games.”

Rangel said the Lobos’ turnaround was “special,” adding that it was about never giving up.

Rancho Alamitos athletic director Mike Enright said the Vaqueros would have qualified for the postseason with a win. Rancho Alamitos (5-16, 3-7) held the strength of victory tiebreaker with a sweep of its games against fifth-place La Quinta (5-20, 3-7).

Had Rancho Alamitos beaten Los Amigos and La Quinta also defeated Loara on Thursday, the Vaqueros still would have advanced. The head-to-head tiebreaker would have decided a three-way tie for third place, with the Vaqueros holding the best record between the schools.

Los Amigos' Amber Rangel (3) and Rancho Alamitos' Jaelin Tabaniag (0) chase a loose ball.

Los Amigos never trailed against Rancho Alamitos in the must-win game, jumping out to a 25-10 lead by halftime. The lead never shrunk to single digits thereafter. The Lobos outrebounded the Vaqueros 36-23.

America Martinez had 10 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots for Los Amigos. Moriela Gallardo added eight points and four assists, and Honey Morales chipped in with two points, 10 rebounds and three steals. Kimberly Renteria also had three points, five rebounds and three steals.

Martinez was among the seniors that faced the prospect of Thursday being their last game in high school. Most of her production came on second-chance opportunities she generated herself.

“I’m excited,” Martinez said of clinching a playoff spot. “I’ve been in the program for four years, and it’s definitely a huge accomplishment.”

Rancho Alamitos’ Vy Quach scored a game-high 17 points, draining five three-pointers along the way. Lillian Nguyen had five points and seven rebounds, and Connor Goertz also contributed five points.