Saratoga News

Sports

Panthers top Rams to gain a piece of Santa Teresa crown /h2>

By Kevin Sparrer

Some teams believe that offense is the most important part of sports--but it stands to reason ... if the other team can't score, it can't win.

The Prospect girls basketball team taught that lesson to a strong shooting team from Willow Glen on Feb. 15, defeating the Rams 45-35. The Panthers held the Rams to only 15 points through the first three quarters, including allowing them only one point in the entire second quarter.

Prospect controlled the tempo of the game from the very beginning. Not only did Willow Glen come up with only six points in the first quarter, but their first shot attempt didn't come until two minutes had already passed and the first basket didn't come until half of the quarter was already gone.

"I'm unbelievably happy," said Prospect head coach John Melvin. "Willow Glen is a good shooting team. Our goal was to hold them, and we did."

Prospect was under a lot of pressure during the game as well, knowing they had to win to become co-champions with Branham in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League. And win they did, finishing with a 13-1 record in the division.

The Panthers, 19-7 for the season, will now advance to the Central Coast Section Division III playoffs. Prospect, seeded No. 10, will open against No. 7 Terra Nova (15-10) on Feb. 21, 7 p.m., on the higher seed's floor. The winner will travel to Notre Dame-Belmont on Feb. 24 to face the No. 2 St. Ignatius (18-6)-No. 15 North Monterey County (11-15) winner.

Jennifer Jasper was the cornerstone of the offense and defense for the Panthers in their win over the Rams, scoring 14 with two at the line and pulling down 14 rebounds. "Jasper plays tall," said Melvin. "She goes inside and plays bigger than she is and her rebounding is incredible."

Shelly Otaguro was next with nine points, including five from the line, and she had seven steals. Sarah Eseroma had five points with three at the line, Tori Parker had five with a free throw and Simone Scott had five, all coming from the free throw line, and she pulled down eight boards.

Mariah Rogers added four points and seven rebounds and Leah Williams hit three at the line.

Prospect also defeated Mt. Pleasant 46-32 on Feb. 13 with Jasper leading the attack with 16 points and 16 boards. She also stood tall in the middle, blocking 15 shots.

Katie Kinder had 11 points with nine coming from beyond the arc. Otaguro had seven with six points from three-point land and one at the line. She also stole the ball five times. Eseroma had four points and Scott and Williams had three apiece. Scott also pulled down five rebounds in the win. Tori Parker had two points.