| | Published February 1st, 2012
| Miramonte Girls Steam Roll Rivals
| | By Conrad Bassett |  | | Megan Reid (1) Photos Andy Scheck
|
Last week the Lamorinda girls' basketball teams had one of the toughest weeks in the Diablo Foothill Athletic League schedule. There were two Lamorinda rivalry games and Campolindo and Acalanes played three games in a five game stretch.
When the week was over, Miramonte's girls' team continued to dominate DFAL play starting with an 82-36 win over Acalanes on January 23. The Mats raised their record to 19-0 overall while the Dons fell to 12-7.
Matador senior captain Devon McDonald scored in the first 15 seconds on a layup. Dons' senior Sophie Taylor hit two free throws, while junior Molly Martin added another and the Dons had their only lead of the game at 3-2.
The Mats answered with a free throw from senior Taylor Kizziee and two layups from sophomore Megan Reid. Miramonte never looked back as they went on a 12-0 run to build a 23-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second period, the Mats continued to score and built their lead to 38-22 at the half.
It was much of the same in the third quarter; the Mats outscored the Dons 19-5, including a 13-0 run in the final four minutes. Miramonte continued to extend the lead in the fourth to win, 82-36.
McDonald led the Mats with 19 points. Junior Carly Gill added 14 and senior Janine Loutzenhiser had 13.
Freshman Taylor Odom led Acalanes with 14 points.
Matador coach Kelly Sopak was pleased with how his team got better as the game progressed. "We struggled a bit in the first half and got a little impatient as our shots were not falling. However, in the third quarter we settled down and starting rotating better in the press and got into transition a lot better, which allowed us to get more high percentage looks at the basket."
Dons' coach Chris Russell said his team continued to battle despite being behind. "I thought our team fought all night despite the deficit we were facing in the second half."
Miramonte traveled over to Moraga to face Campolindo on January 25. Miramonte extended its win streak to 20 games beating the Cougars 82-39.
Kizziee was one of four Mats in double figures with 18 points. McDonald scored 15 to go with six steals, Gill added 13, and senior Janine Loutzenhiser tossed in ten.
For Campolindo, senior Laura Hickey had 13 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore Ashley Ewing had ten points and nine rebounds.
The game started close as Kizziee hit a layup and then two free throws in the first minute for Miramonte, while Ewing added four to give Campo its only lead of the game at 6-4.
The Mats then went on a 17-0 run to end the period. Miramonte continued their fine play in the second period and led 51-16 at the half.
"I was so impressed with our intensity to start the game," Sopak said.
"Campolindo did a very nice job of taking things away that we like to do offensively so we had to make some adjustments," he said of Campolindo's pressure.
Campo coach Elgin Leslie was happy with the Cougars' effort. "I thought we played hard throughout the game. Hopefully we can learn from our mistakes and use this game as a springboard to get better for the second half of league."
Miramonte had a bye on Friday and was atop the DFAL at 6-0 and was 20-0 overall.
Campolindo (4-3 DFAL and 9-11 overall) handled Alhambra 61-35 and Acalanes beat Las Lomas 63-47. They are now 3-4 in the DFAL and 13-8 in all games.
Acalanes played Campolindo on Tuesday, January 31 after the press deadline. Miramonte travels to Acalanes on February 14 and hosts Campolindo on February 16.
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 | | Annie Ward (23) and Taylor Kizziee (00)
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA