Futalan not seeing red
Staff Reports
Editor’s note: Odds and ends from the past week in local girls’
basketball.
GLENDALE -- Sorry, wrong number: La Canada High’s Diahnn Futalan
left behind an important article of clothing. It sat idle in the
washing machine Monday while she competed in a tournament.
So Futalan, a junior center, needed a new white uniform top so
she’d be able to compete. Coach Tamar Hill provided a much-needed
assist before Monday’s 48-26 victory against Covina Northview in the
seventh-place game of the eighth annual Lady Knights’ Christmas
Classic at Arroyo High.
Normally sporting No. 24, Hill handed Futalan a uniform with the
No. 3.
“I didn’t think we’d need those jerseys,” Futalan said. “I thought
we’d be wearing our [red] road uniforms.
Fortunately for Futalan, Hill has carried several extra uniforms
to each game in case of an emergency.
Futalan looked comfortable -- in her new jersey and on the court.
She scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Spartans.
She was also named to the all-tournament team.
Two sides to every story: Hoover High girls’ basketball player
Arpa Gregorian is a fascinating athlete.
When she plays to her potential, the senior is usually a dominant
low-post threat who uses her athletic ability and her speed to get
past opponents.
But, there are moments when Gregorian looks unfocused on the
floor, something Tornado Coach Jack Van Patten knows all too well.
Case and point: Saturday’s 54-43 victory against North Hollywood
in the 18th annual Burroughs Optimist Tournament.
In the first half, Gregorian picked up a foul in the backcourt
while reaching for the ball. Van Patten immediately took her out of
the game.
But, in the second half, Gregorian came back strong, using an
array of post moves to score six second-half points and grab eight
rebounds. She finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Gregorian also didn’t foul out for the seventh consecutive game.
“Now I’m mentally in the game,” said Gregorian, who fouled out in
Hoover’s first three games.