Turnovers costly for Falcons
BY ALONSO TACANGA Special to The Californian
March 10, 2012
MISSION HILLS -- As Independence coach Val Mancera called a timeout 2 minutes into the Falcons' CIF state playoff game against MissionHills-Alemany, it was clear his team's chances were going to rely heavily on its ability to limit its mistakes.
Independence guard Vanessa Mancera, had just been smothered by two trapping Alemany defenders and picked up her dribble. Not wanting to let the play become his team's fifth turnover of the night, the Independence coach asked for a timeout.
"You have to be able to make smart decisions," the coach said.
That early timeout worked, but the coach's message was lost somewhere between the second and third quarters of the Falcons' 57-33 loss Saturday night to the host Warriors.
With Independence (27-6) turning the ball over 20 times through three quarters, the Warriors' lead grew to an insurmountable 50-19 by the start of the fourth.
By the time the Falcons made their move, outscoring Alemany 14-7 in the final period, it was too late.
"If we just had the intensity we had in the second half in the first half, it probably would have been a different game," Val Mancera said.
Alemany's Leslie Lopez-Wood had 11 of her game-high 14 points in the first half, leading her team to a 25-11 advantage.
While the Falcons limited their turnovers to only four in the third quarter, they struggled to score, making only 2-of-11 field goal attempts. They were outscored 25-8 in the period.
Vanessa Mancera had a team-high nine points and Khiylah Dean added eight for the Falcons, who came in with a five-game winning streak, having found their stride on the way to a Central Section championship last week.
Against the Warriors, however, Independence needed a little more precision and energy.
"When we first came out, we didn't come out with our intensity and we didn't play right," Vanessa Mancera said. "Our heads weren't in it."
Despite the loss, Independence advanced farther than the young program has ever gone. Neither of the Manceras let the disappointing loss taint that.
"I'm so proud of my team," Val Mancera said. "Our seniors are great leaders, our underclassmen work so hard. We don't have the big name; we got one solid team and that's why we were here today."
March 10, 2012
MISSION HILLS -- As Independence coach Val Mancera called a timeout 2 minutes into the Falcons' CIF state playoff game against MissionHills-Alemany, it was clear his team's chances were going to rely heavily on its ability to limit its mistakes.
Independence guard Vanessa Mancera, had just been smothered by two trapping Alemany defenders and picked up her dribble. Not wanting to let the play become his team's fifth turnover of the night, the Independence coach asked for a timeout.
"You have to be able to make smart decisions," the coach said.
That early timeout worked, but the coach's message was lost somewhere between the second and third quarters of the Falcons' 57-33 loss Saturday night to the host Warriors.
With Independence (27-6) turning the ball over 20 times through three quarters, the Warriors' lead grew to an insurmountable 50-19 by the start of the fourth.
By the time the Falcons made their move, outscoring Alemany 14-7 in the final period, it was too late.
"If we just had the intensity we had in the second half in the first half, it probably would have been a different game," Val Mancera said.
Alemany's Leslie Lopez-Wood had 11 of her game-high 14 points in the first half, leading her team to a 25-11 advantage.
While the Falcons limited their turnovers to only four in the third quarter, they struggled to score, making only 2-of-11 field goal attempts. They were outscored 25-8 in the period.
Vanessa Mancera had a team-high nine points and Khiylah Dean added eight for the Falcons, who came in with a five-game winning streak, having found their stride on the way to a Central Section championship last week.
Against the Warriors, however, Independence needed a little more precision and energy.
"When we first came out, we didn't come out with our intensity and we didn't play right," Vanessa Mancera said. "Our heads weren't in it."
Despite the loss, Independence advanced farther than the young program has ever gone. Neither of the Manceras let the disappointing loss taint that.
"I'm so proud of my team," Val Mancera said. "Our seniors are great leaders, our underclassmen work so hard. We don't have the big name; we got one solid team and that's why we were here today."