Team Neighbor takes tourney

Team Neighbor, a local girls’ youth basketball team, won the championship in the 16-and-Under Division at the American Roundball Corp. Tournament.

The tournament was played last weekend at various gym sites in Orange County.

In the division championship game Sunday at Segerstrom High in Santa Ana, Team Neighbor defeated the Valley Explosion of the San Fernando Valley, 31-15. Michelle Lewis of Team Neighbor led all scorers with 14 points.

Team Neighbors began the tournament in pool play action and, behind a stingy defense and balanced scoring, posted a 33-13 win over the Balboa All-Stars of Encino at Liberty Christian High. Renee Lindquist led all scorers with seven points, and Lewis, Brittany Frers and Nikki Fukuzawa each contributed six points.

Later Saturday, Team Neighbor downed the Arc Comets of Van Nuys, 42-32, at Costa Mesa High. Lewis had 13 points; Lindquist, 12; Janet Kim, seven; and Fukuzawa, Meghan White and Jackie Storey each scored three points.

In its first game Sunday, Team Neighbor beat the Elite Gold Club Basketball Club of South Torrance, 35-12, at Segerstrom High. Storey led the defensive charge, and all nine Team Neighbor players scored, led by six points each from Fukuzawa and Lindquist. Kim added five points, and Lewis and Caitlyn Connors each finished with four points.