Buzzer beater putback gives the Lady Huskies a 74-73 win over No. 1 Moorpark
MONTEREY PARK, Calif. — No. 6-state ranked East Los Angeles College won its own Okawa Classic Women’s Basketball Tournament against No. 1 Moorpark College with a 74-73 win at the South “E-rena” Gym.
It came down to the wire after 14 lead changes and six ties. Moorpark missed two free throws with five seconds left in the game. ELAC missed a shot with three seconds left. ELAC sophomore guard JaeLynn Curley (AZ / Ganado HS) caught the rebound in the air with two seconds left and shot a putback as she landed and ELAC shocked Moorpark.
“I was on the key and when I saw Jadis Watson (Lancaster HS) prepare for her shot, I stepped to where I thought the ball would rebound,” said Curley. “It was a hard rebound that came my way and I knew I had to shoot it right away and my shot was a fade away bank.”
Curley was named the MVP. “The MVP award was really a team effort,” said Curley. “Also, I hit my three-point shots during the tournament and the last second shot tonight.” Curley scored 51 tournament points connecting on 12 treys. She had 16 total assists and was perfect from the line during the tournament.
The All-Tournament Team included freshman guard Adriana Gonzalez (St. Paul HS), sophomore forward Breanna Hyde (Sherman Oaks CES) both from ELAC, Moorpark freshman guards Breanna Calhoun and Jazmin Carrasco, sophomore guard Alexis Orellana of College of the Canyons, sophomore Akira McGee of Mission College.
The Lady Huskies led 23-17 on a layup from Watson with 7:37 left in the half. Moorpark followed with a 13-0 run and took a 39-31 lead into the locker-room. “We had a long talk about their run and agreed we would get back in the game, which we did for the win,” said sophomore guard Jennifer Pool (Legacy HS). “We came out in the second half and kept our composure.”
Moorpark had three Raiders score in double figures, sophomore Barbara Rangel, the 5th best rebounder in the state had a double double with 14 rebounds and 12 points. Also, Jazzy Carrasco, Moorpark’s leading scorer scored 23 points and teammate Breanna Calhoun scored 21 points and had a game-high six assists.
PAW TRACKS
Five Lady Huskies scored in double digits, two with double doubles. Sophomore guard Dominique Godbolt (Fairfax HS) had a double double with 14 points and 12 rebounds as did Watson who scored 15 points and had 10 rebounds. Curley scored 17 points, Pool scored 11 points as did Gonzalez.
Follow ELAC Athletics at http://athletics.elac.edu/landing/index or on Facebook at ELAC Huskies Athletics (@elachuskiesathletics).
submitted by Tadzio Garcia