After losing the last two games against Ayala and Diamond Ranch, Diamond Bar girls basketball got back on track with a much needed victory against the Walnut Mustangs. The anticipated game, held on Jan. 15, ended with a score of 58-39.
The Lady Brahmas started out consistent, leading 10-6 by the end of the first quarter. The team’s size advantage allowed the players to quickly overpower the Mustangs by dominating the boards. DB collected many second chances from offensive rebounds and held the Mustangs’ offense to one possession.
Senior co-captain center Yewande Alabi led the way and established her dominance and prowess on the court with 18 points and 19 rebounds. Prior to this game, Alabi broke the school record for most rebounds in a game with 28 against Los Altos. “Yewande is having a great senior season and always plays well,” Coach Tony McCabe said.
Near the end of the second quarter, junior point guard Natalie Wong made two three pointers to give all the momentum to Diamond Bar’s side. Wong would finish the game with 12 points, all of them being three pointers. The impressive offensive showing along with outstanding defense quickly made this a one-sided affair. By halftime, the Brahmas were leading 34-15.
With great production from the entire team, the game was soon out of reach for the Mustangs. Four players on the team scored in double figures.
In the third quarter, DB continued its hot performance, putting on a shooting clinic. When the Mustang defenders double teamed Alabi on the block, she passed it out to one of her teammates for an open three. With the Brahmas dominating the inside-outside game, the Mustangs had no chance of coming back. By the end of the third quarter, the Brahmas were destroying the Mustangs 45-24.
Going into the final quarter, the Lady Brahmas greatly benefited from the play of junior guard Norah Wu. She anchored the team by strategically distributing the ball to her teammates, making open shots, grabbing rebounds, and playing solid defense.
Last year, the team reached the second round of CIF and finished the season third in the Hacienda League with a strong overall record of 18-11. Although the team lost most of its core players from last year, the Lady Brahmas are in third place determined to catch up to the Bonita Bearcats, who are currently ranked first. “When you play for the league title, you have to play each game like it’s a championship game,” McCabe commented.
As the season winds down, the team looks forward to progressively improving its skills and strategy. “The team is shooting in the 55-65 percent range in free throws,” McCabe commented. “With the team being healthy, this team can play together well and have a chance to win the league,” McCabe said.