Birmingham players celebrate CIF Los Angeles City Section Open Division Championship after defeating Westchester. 24 February, 2024. (Photo, photographer’s contribution by photo Andy Holzman)
Pasadena- Birmingham Girls Basketball Team defeated Westchester 55-50 at Pasadeena City College on Saturday to win the CIF Los Los Angeles City Section Open Championship for the second time in three years.
Birmingham coach Victor Copongscorn said, “This was our main goal – to reach here and bring a trophy to come back home.” “Credit goes to all these players. He worked so hard. We had a great week this week. They really wanted it. ,
Patriots (24-6) knocked the Defending Section Champion extensively as they were capable of giving a bottle to Westchester Star Maria Blake, which had 23 points in the semi-finals and was held for only nine points on Saturday.
Copongscorn said, “Berry could not really say enough about the job, Berry did against Maria.” “He is the player of the city for the year. Everything goes through him and we were hoping to force someone else to defeat us. ,
Berry also uprooted the crime, knocked for the first time out of his three 3-pointers, with 4:31 left in the first quarter, which was the first points of Birmingham. She was later associated with a pair of 3s in the game that both gave a lead to Patriots.
“She was the only person who was shooting continuously tonight,” said Copongscorn. “3-pointers were the only shots she made but they were big shots.”
After showing a deep bench, Patriots went into a hastime with a gain of 24-21. Sophomores Kamora Coleman and Ania Johnson were important in slowing down the fast-paced crime of Westchester, while Anette Jones led aggressively, scoring seven of Birmingham’s 15 points to the quarters. The junior ended with 10 points.
“We have people coming out of the bench who are playing great defense, knocking on shots and contributing where they can,” Copongscorn said. “It was the attempt of the total team. I don’t think they could drown as us independently. We were able to do it with us that I was not surprised in the fourth when we still had legs and finally were able to get a defensive stop. ,
The teams took a 36-all tie in the fourth. The defensive ruthlessness of Birmingham made it possible. Patriots attracted four charging fouls in the quarters, consisting of two in the first minute.
“Selflessness,” said Copongscorn. “They are ready to place their body on line. In Semi we also tried to take those people and were not able to receive calls. We talked about setting your feet and really taking charge. ,
The patriots removed it in the last minute of the game. Ania Johnson hit an independent throw to put Birmingham ahead for good. She also grabbed a pair of major defensive rebellion to help seal the victory.
Senior Natalie E. Lopez scored eight out of 13 points in the fourth, with four free throw down in the last 30 seconds. He also had seven assistants and three theft.
“It meant the world for us,” Lopez said. “We were working on our butt for summer. We had consecutive hours in the gym. Constant sweating, tears. We put everything in it. ,