GIRLS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Rancho Alamitos Cleans Up Act, Beats Santiago, 82-39

In a game dominated by turnovers, Rancho Alamitos put together enough non-sloppy play to defeat Santiago, 82-39, in Garden Grove League girls’ basketball Friday night at Santiago High School.

Rancho Alamitos committed 26 turnovers--and still trailed Santiago by 15 in the giveaway column. Santiago traveled, threw away and fouled its way to 41 turnovers, including 11 each in the first, third and fourth quarters.

The Vaqueros (8-2, 5-0) got caught up in the mistake-fest early, making only five of 21 field goals in the first quarter while matching the Cavaliers turnover for turnover. Rancho Alamitos had nine first-quarter turnovers but managed to open a 13-9 lead.

Two three-pointers by Tracy Keller helped the Vaqueros get untracked in the second quarter, but Santiago’s mistakes set up numerous scoring opportunities. Rancho Alamitos hit seven of 22 shots to take a 36-18 halftime lead.

The Vaqueros were much smoother in the third quarter, making 10 of 15 shots to put the game away. Shannon James scored 13 points in the quarter, including three three-pointers that came in a five-minute span. James led all scorers with 20 points.

Santiago (5-9, 2-3) had problems with Rancho Alamitos’ full-court press all night. The Cavaliers, frustrated by their inability to break the press, committed a number of hard fouls. Rancho Alamitos kept its poise and worked the ball inside to Anita Stecker, who scored 17 points, and Akilah Rodgers, who scored 16.

Rachel Matemate led Santiago with 10 points. Matemate was ejected late in the fourth quarter after being called for an intentional foul and a technical foul.

In the Garden Grove League:

Kennedy 54, La Quinta 26--Lynly Matsumoto had 29 points for the Fighting Irish.