NHS cagers fall to state champs
by Misty Volaski

Nordhoff's varsity girls' varsity basketball team knew they had a good chance to win this year's first-round Division IIIA CIF playoff game.
And win they did. Though the match was fairly close at halftime, 30-23, Nordhoff was able to pull away in the second half with a double-digit lead, thanks in part to Alison Bennett's 19 points, 16 rebounds, four blocks and six assists. Teammate Lindsey Mezori nabbed 13 points, while freshman starter Sarah Nylander contributed several key plays in addition to her six steals, four points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Coach Ted Cotti brought up two younger players, Tahnie Benitez and Sarah Lagos, to compete with varsity in the playoffs. The two girls added six points, eight rebounds and five steals to Nordhoff's record, making their postseason addition to the team a good decision, Cotti said. "Rebounding and steals were the key in this game."
The Lady Rangers' game against the two-time defending state champions Bishop Montgomery eliminated Nordhoff in the second-round, 75-42. Bishop Montgomery was the heavy favorite, but it was the few small mistakes that made the difference in the game. In the first half, Nordhoff was 2 for 12 at the free throw line, and 4 for 28 in post shooting. "Our guards had to carry us," Cotti said.
It was Nylander who led the team and picked up the slack, with 14 points, three assists and four steals in six for nine shooting.
Noele Quinn of Bishop Montgomery proved to be the Rangers' most difficult adversary - she was the state player of the year two times. However, Mezori put the pressure on Quinn, stealing the ball from her three times in the first few minutes, showing the crowd why she is the county leader for steals.
The Rangers, who will graduate Mezori and Shannon Popp this year, finished the season with 14 wins, 13 losses.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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