Leading by as many as
nine points in the first half (17-8), Cerritos saw the
Pirates fight back and take their first lead of the
game, 35-34 with 15:23 on two free throws by Gomez. OCC
extended their lead to 48-39 with 8:48 left in the game
after a three-pointer by Chelsea Alfafara. However,
freshman
Raven Tripp
(John Glenn HS) scored five straight points,
including a three-pointer, and after Daughtery drained a
bucket with 5:23 left, the game was tied at 47.
With less than a
minute remaining, the Falcons led, 53-52 and made it a
three-point lead after a basket by Taylor with :58
seconds left. Alfafara put the Pirates back on top,
57-56 with a three-pointer with :13 seconds left. But
then Daughtery was fouled by Melissa Mahi and netted
both free throws, which turned out to be the
game-winning points.
Taylor led the
Falcons with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Daughtery
contributed 17 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Added to the starting lineup freshman
Vannesa
Faagata (Paramount HS) added 10
points and eight rebounds, while Tripp checked in with
eight points and four rebounds in her first game as a
starter. Gomez led the Pirates with 18 points, while
Alfafara (14 points) and Simone Ibbotson, who scored 12
points, also scored in double-figures.
