The South Pasadena High girls’ basketball team has been making a habit of steamrolling their opponents in Rio Hondo League play so far this season, including San Marino in the rivals’ first matchup of the season on the Tigers’ home court.
But the Titans, this time playing host, had a chance to reverse the trend. However, that chance dissipated early in the rematch.
Against the visiting Tigers, San Marino struggled at both ends as South Pasadena recorded a dominant 64-22 win in league play on Jan. 19.
“We always know that South Pas is going to be a great challenge for us and, in games like this, we want to focus ourselves and thought we did a really good job of that,” San Marino coach Elizabeth Reuter said. “Our challenge to the girls was just to battle and not give up, and I really felt we didn’t give up.”
San Marino (11-9 overall, 2-4 in league as of Jan. 23) was led in scoring by Titan freshman Giuliana Reitzell with eight points. San Marino senior Malia Yu had seven, while senior Chloe Lin had five and sophomore Angela Li two.
“[Reitzell] had a good game today,” Reuter said. “She is going to be someone who I think can cause problems for other teams.”
Making the difficult task of reining in the Tigers even harder was the absence on the court of Kailey Woo, who ruled out due to illness.
South Pasadena, ranked in a tie for No. 9 in CIF Southern Section Division II-AA, remains undefeated at 6-0 in the Rio Hondo League as of Jan. 23, with an average margin of victory of just over 56 points a game.
“It’s a rivalry game, so it’s always good to come into their house and still get a solid win,” said South Pasadena assistant coach Kevin Kohler of the victory. Kohler led the Tigers from the sideline in place of head coach Cody Masden, who was missing due to illness.
Against the Titans in the rematch, South Pasadena (19-3 overall as of Jan. 23) scored the first 21 points of the contest, including 10 points from Kayla Boozer as the junior established dominance in the paint. San Marino did not get on the board until the final 30 seconds of the opening period thanks to Yu’s layup, which made it 21-2 after the first quarter.
The Tigers then scored the first 11 points of the second quarter before Reitzell made a layup with less than two minutes to play in the half. Boozer scored the next four points of the contest before Reitzell scored again from in close range, this time off an assist by Li. Tiger senior Dylan Tse, who had nine points in the frame, made a 3-pointer as time expired to set the halftime margin of 39-6.
The third quarter opened with a 6-0 run by the Tigers, with all the points coming from Tse, who would end up with nine points in the quarter. Li then hit a baseline jumper off an assist from senior Sophia Papadopulos for the hosts’ first points of the second half. Yu scored the final two points of the third and it was 52-11 going into the final period.
The Tiger lead peaked early in the fourth quarter, which was played with a running clock for its majority. Playing mainly against the South Pasadena reserves, the Titans doubled their point production from the first three quarters combined. In the waning minutes, Lin made a scoop shot while being fouled. The senior hit the ensuing free throw for the hosts’ final points, a total matching their output in the first matchup.
“We played good pressure defense, and that has kind of been our mantra this season, just applying pressure on ball, and I think we did a good job of that today,” Kohler said.
South Pasadena was led in scoring by Tse with 23 points, with all coming in the first three quarters. Boozer had 16 points, with 14 before halftime.
LA CAÑADA 53,
SAN MARINO 28
The Titans suffered a league setback against the Spartans on Jan. 17. Lin scored six points and added four rebounds in the loss. Titans junior Chloe Linden also had six points, and sophomore Lily Mata scored five. Yu had four points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
SAN MARINO 57,
L.A. MARSHALL 51
Lin scored 20 points and added six rebounds and four steals as the Titans topped the Barristers in a nonleague tilt at home on Jan. 15. Yu recorded a double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Linden had eight points, to go along with six steals and five rebounds, and Li had eight points in the nonleague win.
First published in the Jan. 25 issue of the San Marino Tribune
