Harvard-Westlake girls' basketball finds way to survive Chatsworth's rally
By Alonso Tacanga, Special to the Daily News
Updated: 01/24/2010 01:08:27 AM PST
Following an offensive foul and a technical for disputing the call, Chatsworth girls' basketball guard Monica Jackson walked in dejection toward the end of her team's bench, dropped herself onto a seat and crossed her arms in disgust.
Forced to sit after having picked up her fourth foul in only the first quarter and with the host Chancellors trailing state power Harvard-Westlake of Studio City by double digits, Jackson saw her Saturday night going downhill in a hurry.
"I was devastated," Jackson said.
Jackson had to sit until the second half and waited until the fourth quarter to shred off the Wolverines' defense in such a manner that had Chatsworth on the verge of a monumental upset. But the Chancellors ran out of time and lost 70-67.
Harvard-Westlake (20-1), which won for the 16th consecutive time, built a 53-39 lead entering the fourth behind solid shooting from Nicole Hung (24 points), but Jackson did everything in her power to rally the Chancellors in the final quarter, scoring 20 of her 29 points in those eight minutes.
"When she's in the zone, you just have to let her go," Chatsworth coach Michelle Chevalier said.
Jackson's layup with 9.8 seconds left drew Chatsworth (7-8) within 67-66 before Skylar Tsutsui made two free throws for Harvard-Westlake.
The Chancellors got the ball into Jackson's hands in hopes of putting up a potential tying 3-pointer, but the Wolverines swarmed her and preferred to foul instead of giving her a chance to stun them into overtime.
"Really smart move on their part," Chevalier said.
With only 2.9 seconds to go, Jackson made the first free throw and missed the second on purpose for a possible putback. Harvard-Westlake, ranked No. 6 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, grabbed the rebound and time expired.
Chatsworth left its court feeling positive about its performance, especially following Wednesday's 43-36 loss to El Camino Real of Woodland Hills, a team Harvard-Westlake defeated by 26 in the season opener. With Jackson forced to sit, the Chancellors trailed 23-12 to start the second quarter.
However, following a timeout in which Chevalier seemed to question her players' focus, Chatsworth responded. Jasmine Wooton and Destinee Sellers combined to score 16 in the quarter and Chatsworth went into halftime trailing 32-29.
Harvard-Westlake extended its lead to as much as 17 points in the third, when Jackson returned. Almost all of it was gone in the final minute, but timely defense allowed the Wolverines to preserve it.
Sellers had 19 points and 14 rebounds and Wooton scored 15 points for Chatsworth.
Nicole Nesbit had 18 points and Tsutsui contributed 15 points for Harvard-Westlake.
Updated: 01/24/2010 01:08:27 AM PST
Following an offensive foul and a technical for disputing the call, Chatsworth girls' basketball guard Monica Jackson walked in dejection toward the end of her team's bench, dropped herself onto a seat and crossed her arms in disgust.
Forced to sit after having picked up her fourth foul in only the first quarter and with the host Chancellors trailing state power Harvard-Westlake of Studio City by double digits, Jackson saw her Saturday night going downhill in a hurry.
"I was devastated," Jackson said.
Jackson had to sit until the second half and waited until the fourth quarter to shred off the Wolverines' defense in such a manner that had Chatsworth on the verge of a monumental upset. But the Chancellors ran out of time and lost 70-67.
Harvard-Westlake (20-1), which won for the 16th consecutive time, built a 53-39 lead entering the fourth behind solid shooting from Nicole Hung (24 points), but Jackson did everything in her power to rally the Chancellors in the final quarter, scoring 20 of her 29 points in those eight minutes.
"When she's in the zone, you just have to let her go," Chatsworth coach Michelle Chevalier said.
Jackson's layup with 9.8 seconds left drew Chatsworth (7-8) within 67-66 before Skylar Tsutsui made two free throws for Harvard-Westlake.
The Chancellors got the ball into Jackson's hands in hopes of putting up a potential tying 3-pointer, but the Wolverines swarmed her and preferred to foul instead of giving her a chance to stun them into overtime.
"Really smart move on their part," Chevalier said.
With only 2.9 seconds to go, Jackson made the first free throw and missed the second on purpose for a possible putback. Harvard-Westlake, ranked No. 6 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, grabbed the rebound and time expired.
Chatsworth left its court feeling positive about its performance, especially following Wednesday's 43-36 loss to El Camino Real of Woodland Hills, a team Harvard-Westlake defeated by 26 in the season opener. With Jackson forced to sit, the Chancellors trailed 23-12 to start the second quarter.
However, following a timeout in which Chevalier seemed to question her players' focus, Chatsworth responded. Jasmine Wooton and Destinee Sellers combined to score 16 in the quarter and Chatsworth went into halftime trailing 32-29.
Harvard-Westlake extended its lead to as much as 17 points in the third, when Jackson returned. Almost all of it was gone in the final minute, but timely defense allowed the Wolverines to preserve it.
Sellers had 19 points and 14 rebounds and Wooton scored 15 points for Chatsworth.
Nicole Nesbit had 18 points and Tsutsui contributed 15 points for Harvard-Westlake.