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by Dew York Staff Writer BARSTOW — Today's CIF Southern Section Division III AA wild-card game between South Pasadena and Barstow looks like it'll be a close one. Barstow (12-12) took fourth in the San Andreas League, beating Cajon in the regular season fi nale to secure the playoff spot. “We're (practically) in the same spot,” Barstow first-year coach Beth Injasoulian said. “Our records are real close. If we go down and play our game, we can almost beat anyone. “Our win against Cajon showed what we can do. To come back from a 19-point deficit takes heart, a tremendous love for the game and a real desire to win. One advantage the Lady Aztecs have in today’s game is height. South Pasadena (14-10) has a small team, with its tallest player at 5-foot-9. Barstow has a couple girls over 6-foot including sopho more Roberta Chavez, who aver ages 7.5 points and 10 rebounds a game. “Hopefully our post can find time to really shine,” Injasoulian said. “They've been playing against some big girls this year. And if they weren't big, they jumped over our heads.” “Our league didn't have a lot of tall people in it,” fifth-year Tiger coach Ralph Punaro said. “For tunately we didn't go up against a lot of teams with height.” South Pasadena finished in third place in the Rio Hondo League. The Lady Tigers beat first place teams Temple City and San Marino in the second half of league play, but a 1-3 start in league was too much to over come In 1994-95, South Pasadena won the league championship. The Lady Tigers made it to the quarterfinals of the III-A tourna ment last year before losing to Morningside in overtime. The Lady Tigers are led by jun ior guard Stephanie Kawasaki (5-3), who averages 11 points a game. Senior forward Cammy Piersol (5-8) averages eight points and, along with Kawasaki, is the only starter from last year’s league champion. Sophomore center Patty Urzua is the team’s tallest player at 5-9 and averages seven points a game. Junior Molly McDeffitt (5- 8) and senior Pauliny Kit timanthorn (5-3) are the other slated starters. Sophomores Kara Arai (5-2) and Stacey Jim (5- 5) are the main help from the bench. “It's pretty balanced, we don't go to one person,” said Punaro. “We just let the game take its flow and see what happens.” Senior Rose Duran (37 3- pointers) and junior Yvonne Hijoe (47 threes) lead Barstow in scoring with 1] points a game. Hijoe also averages five re bounds a game. Freshman Julie Danieles aver ages eight a game while junior Somer Bonar averages seven points and eight rebounds. Se nior Laura Kurisu helps out under the basket with seven re bounds a game. “They've looked really strong (in practice),” said Injasoulian. “Our offense seems to be coming together. Our defense is now a lot better at the end of the year.” Freshman Cassie Sumrow has also emerged as of late. “Sumrow has really made a showing. She’s the one who won the Cajon game for us. She's come on very strong. She's very confident,” Injasoulian said. “Laura Kurisu has gotten better and better and Tanya Miller has shown that she can be an excel lent defensive player.’ The South Pasadena coach is happy to be in the playoffs. “This is icing on the cake,” he said. “You work to win a league championship but your next goal is to get to the playoffs. It’s an ex citing time of the year. It’s like March Madness but in February for high school teams.” Today's winner will play Bo nita (20-5), the Valle Vista League champ, at 7:30 p.m. Sat urday.
Newspaper Details
Barstow Desert Dispatch
Barstow, California, US
Thu, Feb 15, 1996
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Roberta C.
USA 19 Jul 2026
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