Alemany Shrugs Off Road Disadvantage, Blitzes Rival St. Bernard, 57-37

PLAYA DEL REY —  It’s rare indeed when a basketball team swaggers into the gym of its chief rival--ranked among the top teams in California and possessing two players who have already signed with Pacific 10 Conference schools--and dispatches that team by 20 points.

But Tuesday was such a night for the Alemany High girls’ basketball team.

Serving notice to the rest of the state that they, too, are a force to be feared, the Indians blew past seventh-ranked St. Bernard, 57-37, in a Mission League game at St. Bernard.

“We showed that we’re a lot more experienced this year than last year,” Alemany Coach Melissa Hearlihy said. “Last year they beat us twice.”

Alemany, ranked sixth in California by Cal-Hi sports, improved to 15-0, 3-0 in league play, thanks primarily to a strong effort by post players Zevette Mitchell and Carly Funicello.

The duo combined for 22 points in the first half and badly outplayed St. Bernard’s heralded 6-foot-4 senior tandem of Olympia Scott and Marte Alexander.

Scott, who has signed with Stanford, and Alexander, committed to by Arizona, did not score in the first quarter and combined for only 14 points the rest of the way.

Mitchell, Alemany’s 6-foot senior forward, outscored them by herself, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

“Zevette stepped up and had the best game of her life,” Hearlihy said. “We needed to have a big day inside and we did.”

Said Mitchell: “Last year I was intimidated against St. Bernard. Tonight I felt confident shooting-wise. Everything was pretty cool.”

Funicello, a 6-foot-3 sophomore center, had 10 points in the first half, and finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots before fouling out in the fourth quarter.