Girls Hoops: Eagles Prevail in Tough First Round Game

The Eagle Rock girls basketball team finally broke through in the fourth quarter of a close game in the first round of the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division III playoffs, and after some early game jitters, defeated Bell 49-40.

It was a game in which neither third-seeded Eagle Rock (19-7) nor No. 14 Bell scored more than 11 points in a quarter until the Eagles doubled that in the fourth.

“I thought that we were really tentative at first,” said Eagle Rock coach Mark Kramer in a phone interview Saturday. “I think a lot of the girls kind of got caught up in the, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s the playoffs.’

“We certainly weren’t playing well early. Some of it had to do with Bell’s scouting report. They wanted to make sure we didn’t go on any runs. They slowed the ball down and were very deliberate on offense.”

In the fourth quarter, Eagle Rock rode the scoring of Judith Espinoza, who had 11 of her 16 points in the final period. The Eagles also hit their free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

Eagle Rock senior co-captain Jessica Loya scored 13 points and led the Eagles with 11 rebounds and three blocks. 

Despite Bell's sub-.500 record, Kramer had concerns about his squad's first round opponent. After being seeded No. 3 instead of No. 2, as he’d hoped, Kramer got a tough matchup.

Bell’s record was skewed by injuries and a bevy of close losses. 

And indeed Bell (9-22) came in with a good game plan, trying to slow the game down and minimize turnovers. And at least for three quarters, Bell accomplished its goal.

Bell held Eagle Rock, which averaged 21 steals per game coming into the contest, to eight steals.

After the fact, Kramer knew that having a tough first round game could benefit the Eagles. 

“I think it’s a good thing,” he said. “Being tested right away — as long as you come through it — it’s a good thing. And we came through it.”

Freshman Wendy Lo scored eight points for the Eagles and sophomore Vanessa Encinas added six. For Bell, Bianca Garcia scored 16 points and Adela Gutierrez had nine.

The Eagles will be at home against Sylmar (13-13) Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Sylmar, the No. 6 seed, defeated Grant in its opening round playoff game.

Because of the three-day weekend, the Eagles face the possibility of having only one practice prior to the Sylmar game. Monday there is no school and so far there is no word on whether or not the Eagles will be able to use their own gym for a Monday practice.