By Tadzio Garcia
The women’s basketball team was told that Los Angeles Trade Technical College team only had four players last Friday at game time.
A forfeit win wouldn’t help the Huskies earn a playoff berth. Two LATT team members had deaths in their families; one other was a no show.
Both teams waited 40 minutes with the Huskies post-season hopes fading. Afterwards, both coaches consented to postpone the game for a 2 p.m.
Saturday matchup. In the spirit of collegiality the game went on.
Playing the entire bench, East Los Angeles College overcame nine first half turnovers and won 76-33 to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Huskies face Cerritos College today at 6 p.m. in the most important game of their season.
The loser will be out of the playoffs. After beginning South Coast Conference play at 4-0, ELAC lost to Cerritos in overtime last month. “We have to get this one back. We will be ready for them,” said La Tasha Brown, who blocked three shots againt LATT.
Against LATT, the Huskies began the second half with swishes by Karina Ortiz, DeLaura Castanada and a three-point shot by Alexis Valles for a 38-15 lead.
The Huskies never looked back.
“We were more focused in the second half. I just took the open shots. It was a good night,” said Valles.
Both teams overcame the adversity of the postponement.
The Huskies had team members out with the flu, which gave the bench time on the floor. LATT played only five women with their missing teamates on their minds.
“We played to win, but the game didn’t turn out the way we wanted it,” said Marlon Taylor, 2-year LATT head coach.
Both teams played stingy defense. The difference in the game was ELAC’s offense and that they controlled the boards.
Castanada, Brown, Karina Ortiz and Alexis Valles grabbed seven rebounds each. “We did what we had to do and played together as a team,” said Dioselene Lopez, who scored 16 points for the Huskies with five steals and eight assists.
Ortiz also scored 16 points with two blocked shots and three steals. Castanada nabbed five steals and had 10 assists.
Elizabeth Marquez added two second half three-point shots.
Alejandra Gomez led LATT with 11 points with Janay Wilson adding ten.
“With everything going on for us we stayed positive and fought to the end,” said Wilson.
The postponed game drew 50 vocal fans.