Chatsworth Girls Win 2009 City Title
March 6, 2009
Jack Pollon
Nine players scored for the Taft of Woodland Hills girls basketball team in the City Section Division I championship but it was two
players from Chatsworth that were too much as the Chancellors won their first title in a 60-49 victory.
McDonald's All-American and Cal-bound forward Gennifer Brandon scored 24 points, had 15 rebounds and three blocked shots.
Junior point guard Monica Jackson scored 15 points and had six rebounds.
"I don't know really what to say but this feels great," Brandon said.
Brandon and Jackson had nine and eight points respectively in the first half but Chatsworth was tied 26-26 with the Toreadors.
In the second half, Chatsworth had an 11-2 run in the third quarter after Taft took a three point lead and then a back-breaking 11-0 in the fourth quarter after Taft tied the game at 39-39 on an Rmanii Haynes 3-pointer.
"We just wanted to start out new in the second half," Brandon said. "It was a 0-0 game in our minds. We wanted to make the second half our best half. There was no chip on our shoulder."
Haynes led Taft with 10 points and 10 assists but a key stat was Chatsworth shooting 14 of 22 at the free throw line and the Toreadors going one for two.
Taft relied on too many long-range shots including seven consecutive misses to start the second half.
"We were stopping them but we couldn't make a shot," Taft coach Mark Drucker said. "We couldn't stop Gennifer. Gennifer took over in the open-court. She controls the whole game."
Brandon asserted herself in the second half with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
The victory also holds special meaning for Chatsworth coach Michelle Chevalier.
Chevalier finally captured her first City title after losing to Narbonne of Harbor City in 2003 with Sylmar and last year with
Chatsworth.
"I wanted to do my very best for her," Brandon said. "She has come so close before. I am more happey for her because of all the hard work she puts in."
Amari Hampton had eight points and nine rebounds for Taft. Breanna Burton added eight points and Haley Newell scored all seven of her points in the second half.
Jasmine Wooton had nine points for Chatsworth and Shelbie Wooton added six points and five assists.
Both teams will advance to next week's Div. I state playoffs. Pairings will be announced Sunday.