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Lady Centaurs’ Kelsey Ueda shoots over Devin Stanback of Chaminade. Photo, George Laase.
What do you say after a 30-point loss in the semifinals of the State Regional Division 2 AA girls basketball tournament?
“We ran into a better team,” said Culver City High School Coach Julian Anderson.
But there was so much positive to say about the Lady Centaurs’ gleaming 31-5 season after this week’s 76-46 loss to top-seeded Chaminade in West Hills.
Coach Anderson did not have to search for compliments.
“I am proud of our team,” he said. “We had a great season, a great group of girls.”
Perhaps best of all, “It was fun coaching this team.”
Although the score was lopsided, the Lady Centaurs kept the game close in the first half.
In their 36-game season, the team broke a number of Culver City set records, and they won the school’s first girls’ CIF basketball championship in 35 years. The Lady Centaurs were 10-0 in the Ocean League, and they had to win five games in a row to win the CIF title.
When the other team produced four girls taller than six feet, while 5-9 Michelle Curry was Culver City’s tallest starter, the disadvantage is obvious.
Although Chaminade’s height hurt Culver City, Chaminade’s 5-4 junior guard Paige Fecske was the biggest thorn. She came off the bench to score 20 points, 13 of them in the fourth quarter.
Seniors Kelsey Ueda and Curry led the Centaurs with 14 and 13 points.
Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com
