The budding star that is Los Alamitos’ Cailyn Crocker officially arrived on Thursday night.
Crocker scored 10 of her game-high 27 points in the final 2:15 of regulation, carrying the Griffins back from a nine-point fourth-quarter hole to claim a 56-52 victory over Huntington Beach in a Sunset League opener at Huntington Beach High.
After shooting just 3 of 17 from the field in the first three quarters, Crocker knocked down three of her five shots in the fourth and went seven-for-seven from the free throw line for 14 points in the final eight minutes of play.
“I just had to keep talking to myself, not get down and stay positive,” the sophomore guard said. “I’ve learned over the years to have a short-term memory. It doesn’t matter what you do; you may miss an easy one, just as long as you go on to the next one thinking, ‘This one’s going in.’”
Separated by a point at halftime, the Oilers (9-7, 0-1) and Griffins (12-2, 1-0) traded the lead four times and were even at two different points in the third. The Oilers’ Frankie Wade-Sanchez scored 10 of her 20 points in the quarter, and her only bucket of the fourth capped a 7-2 run that put Huntington Beach ahead by nine with 5:40 to play.
“I told the girls this was the biggest game of the year,” Los Alamiots coach Rich Alvarez said. “We’re young, and to play Huntington at their place with its seniors, this was their shot. If we could steal one (at Huntington Beach), then we’re looking good.”
With Los Alamitos trailing, 50-46, with 2:15 to play, Crocker nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the key with a hand in her face. She gave Los Al the lead for good on the next possession, converting a runner in the paint after absorbing contact, and making the free throw to finish the three-point play.
Crocker made all four of her free throw attempts in the final minute and a half.
“She’s a great player and knows when the game is on the line, she wants the ball,” Oilers coach Russ McClurg said of Crocker. “We tried everything we could to keep the ball out of her hand. Great players make great plays.”
Also in the Sunset League:
Edison 68, Fountain Valley 38: Junior forward Finley Garnett scored a game-high 17 points and 12 players scored for the Chargers (10-4, 1-0) in their lopsided win over the Barons.
In nonleague games:
Santa Margarita 70, Pacifica 44: Senior guard Tori Anderson scored a team-high 15 points and was one of four Eagles to finish in double figures. Santa Margarita (13-3) outscored the visiting Mariners, 37-18, in the second half. Senior forward Mercedes Robles scored a game-high 18 for Pacifica (12-4). Jocelyn Ewell added 14 points for the Eagles, and Renny Cribbin added 11 and Jessica Fracker scored 10.
Tesoro 61, Foothill 47: Haley Ison, Julia Amabile and Porsche Nwokeuku combined to score 42 points for the Titans (7-9) in their road victory over the Knights (7-8).
Contact the writer: kconnolly@scng.com
