Five is enough for Chatsworth girls' basketball team
By Alonso Tacanga, Special to the Daily News
Updated: 01/15/2010 11:24:34 PM PST
As Chatsworth High girls' basketball guard Monica Jackson dribbled out the final seconds of her team's inexplicable 63-58 overtime win over visiting Taft of Woodland Hills on Friday night, she only had one thought in her mind.
"Thank God," she said.
That Jackson and the Chancellors came out winners of the West Valley League tussle bordered a bit on the miraculous.
Chatsworth (6-6, 1-1) had to overcome what was an uphill battle in which it suited up only five players and fell behind by double digits.
Following her 41-point performance Wednesday against Birmingham of Lake Balboa, Jackson scored 40 Friday and played the catalyst once more.
The guard stole a Taft inbounds pass with 13 seconds to go in regulation and dished it to teammate Jasmine Wooton, who tied it at 53-53 and sent the game into overtime. Thirty seconds before that, the Toreadors (7-6, 1-1) led 53-49.
"We just wanted it more than they did," said Jackson, who was 10 of 28 from the field, but 16 of 20 from the free-throw line.
In overtime, Chatsworth fell behind 57-53, but Jackson had a layup and a free throw and teammate Destinee Sellers hit two more to tie the score 58-58 with two minutes to go.
Jackson gave Chatsworth the lead for good a minute later, 60-58, after making two more free throws.
There was no more fight left in the Toreadors after that.
"Lack of discipline," Taft coach Mark Drucker said. "(Chatsworth) had only five players and wanted it way more than we did at the end. I'm very disappointed. They were the team that played harder."
With 5:45 to go in the second quarter, Taft was all over Chatsworth, leading 20-10, and the Toreadors' Breanna Burton finished the first half with 12 points.
But Chatsworth held Burton scored only five points thereafter.
Two quarters and an overtime later, Jackson - who had 13 points at halftime - had her second consecutive 40-point game.
"I don't really know what to say about (the points)," said a smiling Jackson outside her locker room, "But it was a team effort."
Sellers had 10 points and 14rebounds. Wooton had seven points and four assists.
Updated: 01/15/2010 11:24:34 PM PST
As Chatsworth High girls' basketball guard Monica Jackson dribbled out the final seconds of her team's inexplicable 63-58 overtime win over visiting Taft of Woodland Hills on Friday night, she only had one thought in her mind.
"Thank God," she said.
That Jackson and the Chancellors came out winners of the West Valley League tussle bordered a bit on the miraculous.
Chatsworth (6-6, 1-1) had to overcome what was an uphill battle in which it suited up only five players and fell behind by double digits.
Following her 41-point performance Wednesday against Birmingham of Lake Balboa, Jackson scored 40 Friday and played the catalyst once more.
The guard stole a Taft inbounds pass with 13 seconds to go in regulation and dished it to teammate Jasmine Wooton, who tied it at 53-53 and sent the game into overtime. Thirty seconds before that, the Toreadors (7-6, 1-1) led 53-49.
"We just wanted it more than they did," said Jackson, who was 10 of 28 from the field, but 16 of 20 from the free-throw line.
In overtime, Chatsworth fell behind 57-53, but Jackson had a layup and a free throw and teammate Destinee Sellers hit two more to tie the score 58-58 with two minutes to go.
Jackson gave Chatsworth the lead for good a minute later, 60-58, after making two more free throws.
There was no more fight left in the Toreadors after that.
"Lack of discipline," Taft coach Mark Drucker said. "(Chatsworth) had only five players and wanted it way more than we did at the end. I'm very disappointed. They were the team that played harder."
With 5:45 to go in the second quarter, Taft was all over Chatsworth, leading 20-10, and the Toreadors' Breanna Burton finished the first half with 12 points.
But Chatsworth held Burton scored only five points thereafter.
Two quarters and an overtime later, Jackson - who had 13 points at halftime - had her second consecutive 40-point game.
"I don't really know what to say about (the points)," said a smiling Jackson outside her locker room, "But it was a team effort."
Sellers had 10 points and 14rebounds. Wooton had seven points and four assists.