The Culver City High School girls varsity basketball team dream season ended last week with an overtime loss to Granada Hills in the State Regional playoffs.
“We had a great season, and now we have to build on this season and continue our success next year,” said Coach Julian Anderson after the heartbreaking game.
Their magical season closed with a 49-46 defeat to the Highlanders at Granada Hills.
“We have a lot of players returning,” Coach Anderson said. “Hopefully, we can get some new players to help us improve. If we work hard and get stronger up the middle we can have another great season next year.”
The Lady Centaurs definitely need to get bigger and stronger at the center position. And they must find a replacement for their outstanding senior point guard Taylor Tanita.
They will also have to replace senior center Shannon Yahn, who probably was the smallest center in the CIF playoffs. At 5-8, she had to guard players who were over six feet tall.
Although Yahn was small for her position, she was one of the toughest players in the CIF Southern Section.
“I have a lot to learn but I hope I can continue playing at the next level,” said Yahn, who started playing organized basketball two years ago. “I grew up playing pickup games with boys. They always told me that if I want the ball, I need to go get it.”
Although the Lady Centaurs will graduate Tanita and Yahn, everyone else will return for the 2013-14 season.
Junior Kelsey Ueda and freshman Kalley Tooke will be two of the key returning players.
Both players were sad after the loss to Granada Hills.
But you could tell by the look in their eyes that they are already looking forward to next season.
“ I know there will be a lot of pressure on me next year,” said Tooke, who scored a team high 16 points. “And I know I have to get stronger and faster.”
If there is one player who needs to understand her role, it is Ueda. She seems to have the skills to dominate games with her quickness and her outside shooting, but against Granada Hills she scored only six points. In the game before that, the CIF Finals, she scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. “She is a great player,” said Coach Anderson. “Great players need to step up every time they step on the court.”
Culver City ended its season 24-7 overall and a perfect 10-0 in the Ocean League. They also reached the CIF Finals in Division 2A and the State Regional Playoffs.
That’s pretty good for a team that lost nine seniors from last season.
A Pause to Consider
If the Lady Centaurs had to lose, it could not have been to a worthier opponent. Granada Hills coach Lou Cicciari coaches from a wheelchair. He has no legs. That puts everything into perspective.
