Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. subscribe now
LAKE BALBOA — Janna Holley drove to the right and threw a no-look pass to the left for a layup that gathered oohs and aahs from the small, rowdy crowd on the hand. As she walked down the floor, she cupped her hands to her eyes as if looking through binoculars.
Their Birmingham Charter girls basketball team rode the energy and a small margin over West Valley League opponents Granada Hills. But what Holley’s binoculars didn’t see was the big run that came from the Highlanders late in the fourth quarter to earn a 57-50 win on Saturday afternoon.
“Once we settled down and started playing together, things got better,” said senior point guard Calista Arzaga.
Granada Hills (18-2, 5-0 West Valley) trailed 46-42 before a 10-0 run initiated by Emma Perez gave the Highlanders a 52-46 lead, which they took in the final three minutes of the game never made up for it.
Emma Perez with the jump shot for Granada Hills to tie the game at 46-46 with 3:30. West Valley League showdown provides pic.twitter.com/ZKsalBh86v
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) January 29, 2022
Marianne Boco led Granada Hills with 23 points. Perez had 12 points and 13 rebounds and Arzaga added 12. Birmingham (11-7, 4-1) was led by Holley’s 15 points.
Boco is a budding sophomore who is averaging more than 15 points per game this season and could be instrumental in the team’s ultimate goal: an Open Division City title.
“We’re a great team, so I think we can achieve our goal as long as we keep building from here,” Boco said.
Granada Hills and Birmingham face off again on February 8th. The league winner will likely secure a top spot in the Open Division.
Calabasas 58, Christian Village 49: Amia Witt had 25 points and 12 rebounds for the Coyotes (17-6). Maddy Tauro added 22 points to the win.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Harvard-Westlake 76, Crean Lutheran 68: Brady Dunlap led the Wolverines (20-2) with 20 points and Cameron Thrower added 18 and won at Saturday afternoon’s Nike Extravaganza. The win could help improve Harvard-Westlake’s placement in the CIF-SS Open division next weekend.
Saugus 60, Highland 57: Cristian Manzano and Davis White each had 18 points for the win.
Heritage Christian 78, Shadow Hill 52: Barrington Hargress and Wookey Wigington scored 19 and 18 points for the Warriors, respectively.
Birmingham Charter 63, Granada Hills Charter 50: Larry Olayinka led the Patriots with 19 points. Ashton Eckert scored 33 points for the Highlanders, including 12 free throws.
Notre Dame 70, St. Augustine 63: Dusty Stromer led the Knights with 20 points and Luke Rishwain added 16.
Village Christian 74, King Drew 62: Immanuel Taylor scored 20 points and Thomas Luczak had 18 for the Crusaders.
