From STAFF REPORTS No one saw the Burroughs Tournament final round ending the way it did on Saturday evening. La Salle and Leuzinger were only 43 seconds into the second half when the game was called. The referees made the decision that the play was too rough, coupled with the adverse reaction by two Olympian […]
From STAFF REPORTS
No one saw the Burroughs Tournament final round ending the way it did on Saturday evening.
La Salle and Leuzinger were only 43 seconds into the second half when the game was called.
The referees made the decision that the play was too rough, coupled with the adverse reaction by two Olympian players who fouled out, and their coach, Bo Corona receiving a technical foul.
In the first half, the play was rough and aggressive, including elbows flying, and it was reported there was a confrontation between a parent from each side.
The officials told both coaches they needed to address their parents, and both teams complied.
Officially, La Salle earned a 50-34 victory behind 24 points, 4 steals and 2 assists by its senior star, Julia Macabuhay.
The win salvaged the tournament for the Lancers.
La Salle had lost the first three games of the Burroughs Tournament to Alemany, Hart and Moorpark, but they were able to bounce back with victories over Cleveland and then the 16 minute and 47 second game with Leuzinger.
D’Arrah Allen led the Olympians with 12 points.
Brianna Antillon finished with 12 points and Alyssa Arroyo added 10 points for the Lancers.
Nicole Ortiz had 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 points for La Salle.
La Salle coach Freedom McCullough said he was concerned with how out of control the officials allowed the play and banter to get.
He doesn’t mind physical or aggressive play.
In fact, McCullough embraces hard-fought games, but there is a big difference between physical competition and flying elbows and unnecessary contact.
McCullough acknowledged it’s never OK for adults and parents on any side to address a player from another team, and he said that will be addressed.
The good news, though, was La Salle got out with a win and nobody on its roster was injured.
“Once calls weren’t being made and when someone took an elbow to a face and nothing was called, parents got upset,” McCullough said. “We need people to exercise restraint in situations like this one.”
La Salle will have the next 15 days off from games and will resume play the day after Christmas when they take on Pasadena in the Glendora Tournament.
“I was really happy with how composed our girls were, especially considering the circumstances,” he said. “We didn’t get intimidated and didn’t back down. It was important for us to go into the break with some momentum, and we are after the two consecutive victories.
La Salle is already one win ahead of last year’s pace, and in a season that saw the Lancers make a CIF-SS semifinal run.
We contacted the CIF-Southern Section and they said there would be no follow-up on their end, unless either or both schools couldn’t work out whatever their problem was.
It is very unlikely either side would push for that, as both programs almost certainly would prefer this ordeal to be over with.
Box Score:
La Salle: 25-24-1-(50)
Leuzinger: 14-17-3-(34)
Records:
La Salle (8-3); Leuzinger (2-3)
