Alemany Girls Call Their Shots Early, Beat Kennedy, 53-50

After 11 days without a game, the Kennedy High girls basketball team was ill prepared for a hot-handed Alemany team that dealt the Golden Cougars a 53-50 loss Wednesday night at Alemany.

“You don’t practice against the caliber of that team every day,” Kennedy Coach Craig Raub said.

Raub was not offering excuses, although there were several at his disposal.

Tisa Rush, who has led Kennedy in scoring with a 22-point average this season, came out in the first half throwing up shots that resembled watermelons in flight. Kennedy’s Diane DeCree played well, scoring 14 first-half points, but Rush’s poor shooting allowed Alemany to put added pressure on the 6-0 senior.

For Alemany, senior Jenny Beubis poured in 12 first-half points, including nine in the first quarter, to get her team off to a quick start.

“When you are the one who has to score in the big game, you either come out hot, or you come out cold,” said Alemany Coach Melissa Melton.

Rush finally got on track in the fourth quarter, scoring eight points, including a layup with 2:11 left to bring Kennedy within two at 49-47. Rush was then fouled but made only one of two free throws to cut Alemany’s lead to 49-48.

DeCree came back to give Kennedy the lead on a 12-footer from the left baseline. Jennifer Kroll missed a shot at Alemany’s end of the court, but Alemany freshman Stacy Waco pulled down a clutch rebound with 29 seconds left in the game. Kennedy was forced to foul, setting up Kroll’s score on an inbound layup to give the Indians a 51-50 lead. Millie Junio concluded the victory for Alemany with two free throws on an intentional foul by DeCree with nine seconds left.

“We couldn’t quite get it going in the first half,” Raub said. “But we kicked a little of the rust off in the second half.”

Alemany led by four at 14-10 at the end of the first quarter, but Beubis missed her first two shots of the second quarter to give DeCree and the Golden Cougars a little breathing room. DeCree took advantage, scoring 10 of her 24 points to keep Kennedy close at the half, 29-25.

Kennedy’s comeback was not unexpected.

“It just shows you the discipline and the confidence this team has,” Melton said.

Alemany took a four-point lead into the final quarter but had trouble keeping DeCree, who finished with 22 rebounds, off the backboards.

“We just didn’t hit the boards as a team,” Melton said. “We didn’t hit the boards hard until the fourth quarter. Decree grabbed every ball that was by her.”

Alemany, which had trouble adjusting to DeCree’s aggressive rebounding, gave the Golden Cougars something to adjust to in the game’s final minutes, pressing Kennedy with much success.

Alemany forced two key turnovers in the last minute of the game.

“We came back and pressed them and I don’t think they were ready for that,” said Beubis, who forced one of the two turnovers.

Beubis scored 24 points to tie DeCree.

“She played one of the best games of her life,” Melton said of Beubis.

And against Kennedy, she needed to.