Hoover girls’ basketball drops evenly matched game to San Gabriel Mission

LA CAÑADA — Perhaps no two squads were a better fit to square off in summer league action than were the Hoover High and San Gabriel Mission girls’ basketball teams.

Both units have struggled with low summer turnout to the point where each team had to borrow players from host Flintridge Prep this week just to field five starters.

So, when the five-girl Tornadoes and six-player Pioneers met Thursday afternoon, each squad dealt with similar issues such as maximizing only three timeouts for the entire game, minimizing fouls and hoping their conditioning would hold up.

Those circumstances plus near evenly talented squads produced something both programs desperately wanted: a competitive game.

Flintridge Prep incoming freshman Alex Kyriakakis, one of two Rebels playing for short-handed Mission, sank one of two free throws with three seconds left to deliver the Pioneers a 41-40 victory.

“It was an even match outside of Prep’s girls playing with Mission instead of playing with us today, but it was fun and the girls played until the end,” said Hoover Coach Stan Watson, who was without an assistant coach for a second straight game.

Two days prior, both Kyriakakis and fellow Rebels freshman Olivia Stevens played with Hoover versus Village Christian as the Tornadoes were down to just four players because of vacations and commitments to other sports.

This time around, Hoover had a full squad, while the Pioneers poached Kyriakakis and Stevens (10 points and five rebounds).

The experience of playing for multiple teams this summer has been blessing, said Stevens.

“I don’t know how to explain, but all you try to do is help your team by playing your best. I guess we should always be doing that,” said Stevens, who along with Kyriakakis received cheers and support from Flintridge Prep players near the scorer’s table. “It’s just a fun experience playing with different teams, helping out and also being cheered on by your teammates.”

Mission led for only six of the 40 minutes played, but took its largest advantage of 40-35 on a steal and lay-up with 1:43 remaining from Savannah Chairez, who paced her squad with a game-high 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Hoover responded with a straightaway three-pointer from Khiara Almendras, who finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, followed by a layup from Mary Cantos off a rebound and outlet pass from Almendras to pull even at 40 with 1:10 remaining.

The field goal was the last for Cantos, who led her squad with 17 points.

Both teams missed on chances to take the lead before Kyriakakis was fouled on an offensive rebound with three seconds left.

Kyriakakis made the first shot, while the second attempt was rebounded by Mission’s Aeriel Lewandowski as time ran out.

“My biggest concern is that we’d hold up because one of our players has an asthma condition and I was just making sure she was OK,” Mission Coach Frank Morizawa said. “As for the game, we were both evenly matched with six on my side and five on theirs. It’s just nice to get this win; it’s big for our confidence.”

Speaking of confidence, Hoover had plenty in the first half as the team raced out to a 12-2 advantage behind five points from Almendras before eventually taking a 27-12 halftime lead.

Hoover led, 31-20, with 13 minutes left when the team hit a wall.

The Tornadoes did not score for another five minutes, while Mission went on a 13-0 run capped on a basket from Chairez with 10:24 remaining.

“We were at [31] points it seemed like for eight minutes,” Watson said. “I used all my timeouts, since we only have five players, for rest. Fatigue and turnovers killed us.

“I take responsibility for the fatigue aspect because we’re not training too hard, but mistakes, that’s what ends up separating two even teams.”