Samohi Girls Hoops Advances in Playoffs

When her playing days are over, perhaps senior guard Bianka Balthazar ought to consider scouting. She and her father went to watch the City Section Division I girls basketball final last Saturday, knowing the Vikings might draw the winner in the state tournament.

Sure enough, when the brackets were released Sunday afternoon Santa Monica found itself matched against Carson in the first round and, thanks to Balthazar's homework, the Vikings were prepared for the back-to-back City champion Colts.

Santa Monica opened Tuesday night's game on a 9-0 run and never looked back en route to a 59-43 victory in its Southern California Regional opener. Kalaria Obasi scored 15 points, Briana Harris had 13 and Balthazar added nine for the Vikings, who led 17-6 after the first quarter.

"We had an idea what they do," Obasi said. "On defense we had to lock down their main players, No. 5 [Chante Miles] and No. 32 [Janitah Iamaleava]. On offense, it was all about sharing the ball and working for the best shot. They're kind of like Inglewood—really athletic." 

Carson (19-11) pulled to within 32-26 at halftime, but the Vikings began the third quarter on a 7-0 run to widen their lead. 

"We knew about their players and what they could do," Harris said. "We knew they were big, but our plan was to attack the basket and just play with intensity."

Miles, a point guard and Iamaleava, a power forward, are Carson's senior captains but both were held well below their season averages. Miles finished with 12 and Oregon-bound Iamaleava had just six.

"At halftime we talked about needing to play better defense because they were easily beating our press," said Iamaleava, whose best friend, Reshanda Gray of Washington Prep, was last year's City Player of the Year and has signed with California. "We didn't make free throws and we had too many turnovers and missed layups. When it's a close game, those things make a difference."

Santa Monica (23-9) will have precious little time to savor Tuesday's victory.

Next is a rematch against Santa Ana Mater Dei, the top seed in the tournament and the No. 1-ranked team in the nation. The Monarchs (30-1) have beaten the Vikings twice this season, including a 57-37 victory March 1 in the Southern Section Division 1AA semifinals. The game tips off at 6 p.m. Thursday at Mater Dei. 

"I'm on the five-year plan," joked Coach Marty Verdugo, after the season. "It's a great way to go out my last year—either by beating the best or losing to the best."

Verdugo hopes the fourth time is the charm against Mater Dei, which beat Brea Olinda in the Southern Section Division 1AA final last Friday in Anaheim.

"It took me four shots to beat [Long Beach] Poly," Verdugo said, referring to the Vikings' 57-56 upset of the Jackrabbits in the quarterfinals of the Southern Section playoffs. "This is our fourth try against Mater Dei, so maybe that's a good omen."