LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Lady Cougars Take Lead in Rivalry Games


Alyssa Johanson (14) takes a jumpshot Photo Jordan Fong

The 2010-2011 Diablo Foothill Athletic League girls' basketball season is in full swing.

Miramonte at Acalanes

Miramonte opened the season by traveling to take on Acalanes. The Matadors jumped off to an early 15-4 lead before the Dons settled down and went on an 18-3 run behind shooting from senior Kiara Harewood and junior Sophie Taylor. The Dons held the lady Mats scoreless for four minutes in the second quarter.

Not to be undone, Miramonte fought back. Junior Taylor Kizziee and senior Alyssa Johanson led a run to take a 38-24 lead heading into the locker room at the half.

The Lady Dons made an early run in the third quarter. Harrison hit two layups and Taylor a follow shot to close the gap 38-30 less than a minute into the period. That run was as close as Acalanes got to catching up. Junior Janine Loutzenhiser hit several of her five three-pointers to give Miramonte a 61-44 lead going into the final period. Miramonte won 84-57.

Johanson led all scorers with 21, while Loutzenhiser added 17 and freshman Breanna Alford scored 16. Taylor led the Dons with 14 points and 11 rebounds while Harewood scored 13 to go with her 11 rebounds.

Acalanes at Campolindo

The Lady Dons hit the road the next Friday traveling to Campolindo to take on the Cougars. After losing their season opener to Dougherty Valley, Campolindo won its first league game 61-44 over the Dons. Harewood scored the first bucket of the game on a layup, but Campo controlled it from that point on, taking 17-9 lead to end the quarter.

The Lady Cougars added to the lead in the second. Senior Amanda Forshay, junior Annelise Ito, and sophomore Laura Hickey provided both a solid scoring punch and a pressing defense. Campolindo had a 33-20 lead at halftime.

Campo scored the first eight points of the third period and never looked back, advancing their lead to 17 after three periods. With little left in the game, Forshay stole a pass and made a layup to put an exclamation point on the 61-44 Cougar win.

Harrison had another solid game for the Dons with her second double-double in a row-this time finishing with 15 points and 11 rebounds while Taylor added 12 points and 12 rebounds. Campolindo had a balanced attack led by senior Annie Ward, with 13 points, and Hickey with 11. Freshman Ashley Ewing added 10 points and six rebounds.

Campolindo at Miramonte

Last Friday night, Campolindo traveled to Orinda for their first match-up of the season and it came down to the final seconds of the game. Both teams came into the game with 2-1 records with their only losses to first place Dougherty Valley.

Kizziee opened scoring with a baseline three point jumper and the teams battled back and forth with the Lady Mats leading 13-11 after one.

Loutzenhiser started the second with another three for Miramonte and they opened up an 18-11 lead, which they maintained throughout the period leading 29-22 at the break.

Campo made some adjustments at halftime and came out roaring. Forshay hit four quick field goals and Campo had its first lead of the game-a lead they would never give up. Ito hit a rainbow three; Ward a steal and layup, and Hickey a follow-up shot. Campo outscored the Mats 20-6 in the third period.

In the final period, Ito rebounded a shot, scored and then drained another three to give Campo a 51-40 lead. Ito fouled out with four minutes to go.

Miramonte made a final push. They forced some Cougar turnovers to reduce the 11 point deficit to one point. Ward hit the front end of a one-and-one to end the Miramonte run and give Campo a 55-53 lead. Miramonte called a time out with 4.5 seconds left in the game. They ran a play but did not score and Campo prevailed by the 55-53 score.

Ito finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds while teammate Forshay led the team with 12 points. Johanson led all scorers with 16 and eight rebounds.