Village Christian Knocks Off Bell-Jeff in Seesaw Battle

BURBANK —  They say that basketball is a vertical game but sometimes it’s horizontal, too.

Such was the case Saturday night at Burroughs High when the Village Christian girls’ team defeated Bell-Jeff, 50-48, in a Southern Section Division IV-A semifinal game.

The game went back and forth until the final minute.

Village Christian advances to the championship game against Cerritos Valley Christian next weekend at the Pyramid in Long Beach.

In a game that featured six ties and seven lead changes, the Crusaders (21-7) made 22 of 34 free throws, including eight of 12 in an 8-0 run in the final two minutes of the game.

“We fell back on our free throws,” said Crusader guard Lindy James, who scored 12 of her 19 points from the foul line. “We came off a great shooting night but tonight we were off.”

Village Christian made 12 of 55 shots from the field.

Bell-Jeff (22-6) took a 48-43 lead with 1 minute 45 seconds left to play when Veronica Cobb hit a three-foot jump shot, was fouled and converted the free throw.

“The game was ours to take and we didn’t take it,” Guard Coach Jim Couch said. “A close game is always going to come down to free throws. Whoever is hitting them is going to win.”

After taking a 19-14 halftime lead, Bell-Jeff opened it to 25-15 with 5:10 to play in the third quarter, but the Crusaders made six free throws in the next minute and Shannon Spielbuehler hit a three-point basket to narrow the gap to within 25-24.

Bell-Jeff standout Jaclyn Johnson fouled out on the first play of the fourth quarter. She scored 11 points and had 10 rebounds.

Carrie Langhans had 10 points and Ashley Wornall and Spielbuehler each scored eight for the Crusaders.

Cobb had 12 points and 15 rebounds and Felicia Flores had 13 points to pace the Guards.