Nordhoff Girls Find Range, Then Shoot Down Eastlake

Breaking open a close game with some key three-point shooting down the stretch, the Nordhoff High girls’ basketball team upset third-seeded Eastlake, 61-49, Tuesday night in San Diego in the first round of the Division III Southern California Regional championships. Sophomore Nell Becker, who had been slumping prior to the playoffs, made three of her game-high five three-point baskets in the second half to pace the upset.

Eastlake (26-6) was the San Diego section champion.

“[Becker] started last year as a freshman and shot the heck out of the threes,” Nordhoff Coach Jack Smith said. “This year, she’s been in a little bit of a shooting slump. But since we got into the playoffs, she’s been doing that for the last five games for us.”

Through virtually three quarters, neither team was able to take a lead of more than four points. That was until the Lady Rangers (21-9) scored the final eight points of the third quarter, including two three-pointers by Becker, to take a 41-35 lead.

Becker had a game-high 16 points. Keyana Stanford added 14 points and Erin Barker scored 13.