Westchester tops Crenshaw, back in L.A. City final

PASADENA >> The Westchester girls basketball team needed someone to step up in the fourth quarter with senior guard Rylei Waugh struggling to score in Saturday's CIF L.A. City Section Open Division semifinals at Pasadena City College.

That person proved to be Mariah Blake.

Blake scored nine of her game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter to lead the second- seeded Comets (28-1) to a 56- 46 win over Crenshaw and a spot in next Saturday's final, where they will face Granada Hills at PCC.

“The coaches told me at halftime to get out of my head and get to the post, attack the basket and draw fouls, which I did and we got it done,” Blake, who had eight rebounds and seven steals, said.

“We worked together well and we know how we play. This is big to get back to the finals. After we lost last year (to Birmingham), we have some unfinished business to take care of.”

Westchester started out the game forcing the Cougars into 12 turnovers in the first quarter, but the Comets struggled to capitalize, missing six layups and four free throws, leaving things close after the opening quarter (13-11).

Early in the second quarter Waugh picked up her third foul with 4:55 to play.

Comets coach Dominic Grimes made a crucial decision to leave her in for the remainder of the quarter and it paid off as the Comets increased their to seven points. However, Jaida Floyd hit a 3-pointer field goal with 30 seconds to play for Crenshaw, cutting Westchester's halftime lead to 24-20.

In the second half, Westchester continue to pressure Crenshaw, pushing the lead up to seven, but again, the Cougars made another run, highlighted by Destiny FloydHurt's 3-pointer making it 33-30 with less than a minute remaining.

That's when the Comets took over. Blake help key a 9- 0 run that stretched Comets' lead to 47-35 with 3:48 left in the game.

“We handle pressure well,” Grime said. “The way we worked them at practice helped them today to make the plays when we needed them to.

“I feel we are pretty much ready for anything and we have great leadership from our senior point guard Rylei ( Waugh). I think we have a good shot to win it next week.”

The Cougars made a late run to get as close as five with 2:15, that was as close as they would get.

“I'm really proud of my team today for stepping up,” said Rylei Waugh, who had 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists. “This was not one of my best performances and they did the things we needed to get us through.

“I'm very excited to be back in the finals again. I hope we can get it done next week.”