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Lindsay Tanita of Culver City drives for two of her 11 points. Photo, George Laase.
The streaking Culver City High School girls basketball team will host Foothill in the Del Goodyear Gymnasium on Saturday evening at 6 in the quarterfinals of the CIF Division 2AA playoffs.
After going on the road and walloping Eisenhower, 58-27, in their last outing, the Lady Centaurs now have held opponents to an average of only 37 points a game while scoring at the rate of 55 points.
Foothill, 25-3, also is coming off of a big win. They beat Kennedy, 42-28. Foothill’s margin over its opponents is similar to Culver City’s, holding teams to 37.5 points a game while averaging 56.8. The Knights have held their opponents to just an average of 37.5 points per game, while averaging 56.8 points.
Foothill may have a slight height advantage with two players at or just above 6-foot.
But Culver City (26-4) has faced taller players before, and the Lady Centaurs’ accurate outside shooting has neutralized any perceived disadvantage.
It should be noted that two of Culver’s four early preseason losses were before their center, Michelle Curry, a transfer from St Bernard’s, could practice with her new team. This was due to the new CIF rule that players coming in from another school must sit out a month after transferring.
On paper and perhaps on the court, too, Foothill and Culver City appear to be evenly matched. Both have potent offenses with multiple scorers to go along with stingy defenses that like to frazzle their opponents with full-court pressure.
Victory may hinge on who can exploit individual match-ups at the end of a close game or which team can stay out of foul trouble and execute its game plan.
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
