Bell-Jeff Runs Up, Down on Huskies

BURBANK — Bell-Jeff High Coach Jim Couch is sick of hearing under-the-breath comments about his team and its recent dominance of opponents.

“I hear Bell-Jeff likes to run up the score,” he said. “Another thing I hear is that the Valley [teams] are down.”

After his team routed North Hollywood, 85-42, in the championship game of the Bell-Jeff tournament Saturday night at Bell-Jeff, Couch had a message for his detractors.

“The Valley is not down, Bell-Jeff is up,” he said. “It’s not about running up the score and we’re not just Jackie Johnson. That’s the message I want to send.”

Bell-Jeff won four games in the tournament by an average margin of 46 points.

Johnson, the tournament’s most valuable player, scored 36 points to go with her 12 rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots.

Thirteen of those points came during the third quarter, a quarter that saw Bell-Jeff force 10 turnovers and hold the Huskies to two points--turning a 39-30 halftime lead into a blowout.

When the carnage was over in the third quarter, the Guards had a 67-32 lead.

“We just said, ‘Hey if you guys think you can run with us then let’s run,’ ” Johnson said.

“People think the only reason we are winning is because of Jaclyn, but I say watch out because my teammates are going to get you.”

Cheryl Flores, scored 12 points, but was most impressive on defense--leading the team with seven steals.

Constant pressure on the ball by Flores led to several other turnovers and easy fast-break opportunities for the Guards.

Bell-Jeff had 17 offensive rebounds that led to 24 second-chance points.

Felicia Flores, not related to Cheryl, had 12 points and center Veronica Cobb had 10 points and eight rebounds.

Both the Floreses made the all-tournament team for Bell-Jeff.

Stephani Wasserman had 18 points for the Huskies, who won the tournament the previous two years.

Burroughs 67, La Canada 47--Indian Coach Doug Nicol was ejected when he picked up his second technical foul with just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter and his team holding a 35-27 lead.

Nicol’s ejection seemed to spark Burroughs, which ended the third quarter with a 17-8 run, then began the fourth quarter with a 10-3 surge that gave the Indians a 62-39 lead with 3:41 remaining.

The Indians led by as much as 32-22, but saw that lead dwindle after a 5-0 run by the Spartans to start the second half.

Chantel Jimenez scored 18 points for Burroughs and was named to the all-tournament team. Erika Molina added 10 points for the Indians.

Terrie Doizaki scored 14 points and all-tournament selection Becca Jones added 13 for the Spartans.

Kennedy 52, St. Mary’s 24--Tammy Barber scored 12 points for the Golden Cougars, who held the Belles to single-digit scoring in every quarter of the fifth-place game.

Coyles Scarbrough and Romonia Calhoun each added 11 points and Akane Maruyama had 10 for Kennedy.

Calhoun was an all-tournament selection.

Glendale 51, Fillmore 47--Alina Markari scored 19 points and Pola Aghakhanians added 13 for the Dynamiters (8-4) in the consolation final.

Markari and Fillmore’s April Kozar, who scored 14 points, were named to the all-tournament team.

Christie Rosenblad scored 16 points for the Flashes (9-4).