On the Court, Beckley Has a Lot of Nerve

LOS ANGELES —  You expect this kind of thing from someone who’s old and haggard. Someone who’s stressed out about life and work and society gone berserk, who’s ready to hang it all up and move to Montana.

But Mylanta guzzling? By a 16-year-old girl?

Yes, Sarah Beckley says. It’s true. It’s tough to get through a week such as this without something to settle the stomach. It’s tough to think about CIF and State without your insides twisting and twirling like saltwater taffy.

“When you start thinking about games like these,” Beckley says, “well . . . your stomach reacts to it.”

And so, it seems, does she. The Brea-Olinda forward scored a game-high 16 points Saturday to lead the Ladycats to a 45-39 victory over University City in the Southern California girls’ Division II final.

Beckley, a junior, also had a game-high 11 rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot, was seven for 16 from the field, was two for two from the foul line and didn’t have a turnover.

Nervous? NBA players should be so nervous. Sure, after the game, surrounded by reporters and cable TV cameras, Beckley was her anti-spotlight self, stammering and shrugging as questions were thrown her way, looking at her teammates nervously, hoping for a quick verbal assist.

But on the court, Beckley was something else. She was intense, focused, aggressive beyond belief. The face she made pulling down all those rebounds was enough to scare the devil.

Those who equate Brea-Olinda with automatic victory should have sat in on Saturday’s game, at least the first half. The Ladycats looked as if they had spent the morning sipping Sleepytime tea. They looked sluggish and out of sync, playing as if under water. You half expected to see a goldfish swimming around their heads.

Nothing was fishy as far as Brea Coach Mark Trakh was concerned, of course. Trakh was adamant that his team’s 21-17 halftime deficit was the product of University City’s tough defense, pure and simple. But the Ladycat players hinted that pregame jitters were at least partly to blame. And Beckley was happy to second that emotion.

“I was nervous-- yes ,” Beckley said. “I mean, this is our last game before Oakland.”

Oakland? Site of next week’s State final? Judging by the first half, the Ladycats looked as if they might take a day trip to Ojai or Ontario maybe, but not Oakland. At least until Beckley put them back on course. In the third quarter, Beckley scored 10 of her team’s 17 points, boosting the Ladycats to a lead they didn’t relinquish.

Beckley started the quarter with a quick inside basket. She fought for a rebound off her own miss and sank another. Grabbed another teammate’s miss and put it in. Swished two free throws and, with 10 seconds left, smothered another offensive rebound and scored.

This from a girl too shy to speak? The girl they call “Poof” because of her curly, curly hair? The girl who sometimes gets silly and dances on the spot? Who’d rather sleep until 3 p.m. than make the most of the weekend?

“I just wanted to do my job,” Beckley said, shrugging in all sincerity. “I just wanted the team to win.”

At that, point guard Nicole Erickson chuckled at Beckley’s side. Two years ago, as freshmen, she and Beckley sat in the same Sports Arena stands, discussing the same type of things. They had just won the Southern California title, beating Ventura by seven, and Beckley--who scored seven points and had four key rebounds in her first varsity start--couldn’t bear to take any credit.

The fact that Beckley could at least accept some praise this time seemed to make Erickson proud. Beckley was showing a little more confidence, a little less fear. True, she’ll probably never match Erickson’s sure psyche. Erickson, after all, breathes confidence as an Italian food fan breathes garlic; her teammates can’t help but be affected.

But if this team hopes to achieve the goal it set three years ago--to be ranked No. 1 in the nation in 1994--Erickson knows she can’t be the only one ready--and certain--to make it happen.

Sounds a little stressful, but Beckley knows she can handle it.

As for her flip-flopping stomach, it’ll just have to go along for the ride.

Barbie Ludovise’s column appears Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Readers may reach Ludovise by writing her at The Times Orange County Edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, 92626, or by calling (714) 966-5847.