By SHAWNLY KHOYILAR
Staff Writer
After winning league 10-0, Girls Basketball moved on to win the first round of CIF against Thousand Oaks with a score of 56-41.
UHS started off the game very slowly, ending the first quarter at 11-14. After the second quarter, the offense stepped up and played stronger, but the defense fell back, which led to a score of 23-29 at halftime. UHS sealed their win by scoring 27 points after half time. After halftime, UHS played better both offensively and defensively.
Girls Basketball players agree that teamwork throughout the game was a key to their success. “We still have each other through thick and thin, and it only makes us work even harder, and to achieve even greater,” senior Karissa Shin said.
Senior Co-Captain Ashley Chandler and junior Co-Captain Malia Goldsmith led the team by scoring the most points. Chandler scored 23 points and had a field goal percentage (FG%) of 52.9. In addition, Chandler had seven rebounds. Goldsmith scored 18 points and had a FG% of 46.2%. Goldsmith also had nine three point attempts as well as six field goals made.In addition, Shin scored eight points and had a FG% of 66.7%. Shin also had four field goals made.
Following the historic win, the team lost 52-60 in a close game against Upland in the second round of CIF.The second game started off slowly as UHS failed to secure a lead in the first half.After a poor scoring first half, the Trojans were down by five points with a score of 24-29.After halftime, the Trojans worked hard, which brought their score up, but they were still down by three points with a score of 37-40 by the end of the third quarter. Unfortunately, their defense faltered in the last quarter, conceding 20 points for a final score of 52-60.
Goldsmith and Chandler once again scored the most points for the team. Goldsmith’s consistency of control over the ball was a huge contributor to the game.In addition to her 18 point scoring contribution, Goldsmith had seven rebounds and a FG% of 26.1%. Chandler scored a total of 14 points and had a FG% of 46.2%. Key defensive player Shin had six rebounds and a FG% of 25%. Sophomore Claire Kawata and junior Neeyaz Cyrus also scored nine points each. Cyrus had three rebounds and a field goal made (FGM)of three. Kawata had a FG% of 33.3% and a three point percentage (3P%) of 37.5%.
UHS’s state ranking moved up from 293 to 154, and were also undefeated in league.With strong upcoming juniors and sophomores, UHS will look forward to a strong season next year.