Girls scholastic basketball action locally is never a dull ticket. This season should be no different.
At La Jolla Country Day (LJCD) School, head coach Terri Bamford and perennial power the Lady Torreys come off a 21-11 overall record a season ago, finishing unbeaten in the Coastal South League as champions and also winning the Division IV CIF crown. LJCD finished as the Southern Regional runner-up in Division IV.
This year’s squad will look to the likes of point guard Kiara Stinson, forward/center Janae Fulcher, guard Chelsea Burns, guard Dominique Conners, guard/forward Jamesha Townsend, guard Lindsay Nettinga and guard Gizelle Studevent to lead the way. Top newcomers include Ariana Elegado and Chemayne Shipley.
“Despite the losses of Ashley Booker (Seton Hall) and Breanna Settles (University of Alabama, Birmingham), the Lady Torreys are looking to pick up right where the squad left off last year,” Bamford noted. “The sensational six juniors have improved their games drastically and will be even stronger as a class this year.”
LJCD expects to run an up-tempo offense and hard-nosed full court defense this year.
The Lady Torreys opened their preseason schedule Nov. 29 in the fourth annual Sweet Sixteen Invitational Basketball Tournament at La Jolla Country Day School, which ran through Dec. 2. The Lady Torreys captured their own tourney championship, scoring wins over Modesto Christian (57-45), IMG Academy (59-36), San Clemente (50-27), and a championship game triumph over Regis Jesuit of Colorado (63-54).
In the championship, LJCD built an early 17-point lead and held on to beat Regis Jesuit. Regis cut LJCD’s lead to three points late in the third quarter, but behind the trio of Jamesha Townsend’s 16 points, Janae Fulcher’s 14 and Dominique Conners’ 13 points, the Lady Torreys remained unbeaten at 4-0.
LJCD went 3-1 at last week’s Mater Dei Tournament. The Lady Torreys topped Colony from Ontarion 63-50, Dana Hills 62-28 and JW North 55-49. Their only loss came to Lynwood, 54-45.
After they beat J.W. North in a defensive battle, LJCD took on Lynwood in the title game last Saturday.
Scoring during the first half went back and forth in the matchup with J.W. North, as Fulcher once again dominated the inside with 17 points and 16 rebounds.
LJCD pulled away in the third quarter with some steals for lay-ups and half-court execution that sealed the victory. A great effort was also seen Townsend and Conners, who defensively led the way.
In the title game with 13th-ranked (nationally) Lynwood, LJCD got behind early. Lynnwood’s bench, with platoon subbing every 45 seconds, was too much for the Lady Torreys as they found themselves down 35-21 at halftime.
LJCD fought back to within seven at the beginning of the fourth quarter, but ran out of gas. Fulcher finished with 14 points and Conners with 12.
Next up for the 7-1 Lady Torreys is Campbell County from Gillette, Wyoming at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix.
University City High will look to rebound from last season’s 8-18 record, including a 2-8 league mark under head coach John Fiorentino.
The Lady Centurions were led last season by senior Alison Smith. She finished the campaign leading the team in points scored and rebounds.
UC played in the recent Coronado Round Robin Tournament.