Girls basketball competed against South Hills yesterday, continuing the two school’s rivalry. The JV match saw West Covina steal a win with a resulting score of 40 to 37. The following varsity round was also a fierce competition, however, South Hills claimed victory with a close-cut score of 34 to 30.
Junior Monica Flores started the match, standing at five foot eleven inches she swept through the court racing against South Hill’s six foot one sophomore Denia Evans. The two trailed each other constantly through the entirety of the game, each unwilling to surrender to the other.
“I wasn’t really trying to focus on making points or anything like that but more so play good defense… It was my first game back since injury and being put as a starter was nerve-wracking but I tried my best. That’s all I could do,” said Flores.
By the second quarter, the varsity girls were hopeful as the score sat at 9-6. Coach Kevin Quach took the mid-game break as an opportunity to pull the team together and discuss their strategy going forward.
“I feel like for this game our defense is really good, we’ve been working as a team and we want the crown,” said Senior Amanda Guzman.
Another standout player was sophomore Clarissa Mendez, specifically for her confidence in the game. Warding off South Hill’s Jaylynn Year even after being fouled, she persistently pushed the ball to the opposite end of the court.
“ That’s what my parents always taught me, just to be aggressive. Not to push around but to get in there and be aggressive,” said Mendez.
The girls lost momentum when South Hills asserted themselves and took 10 points all in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, they managed one point against South Hills however their efforts proved futile, and by the time the eight-minute clock set to zero nine points stood dividing the two teams.
Despite their loss, the team’s season is far from over with 14 matches left, their next upcoming on Dec. 13th against Don Lugo at home.
