Warriors open season with win over Yorba Linda

By TOM CONNOLLY / Contributing Writer
Published: Dec. 3, 2014 Updated: 6:44 p.m.


The Woodbridge High girls basketball team youth movement got underway Monday night with a 44-26 victory against Yorba Linda in the opening round of the South Coast Classic at Woodbridge.
This season the Warriors roster includes seven freshmen and sophomores, who appeared a bit nervous in the first half. But in the second half, they turned it up a notch and finished strong.
Freshman Jasmine Rachal scored 13 points. Freshman Anjali Ghadi added 10 points and led an 11-1 run to start the fourth quarter, enabling the Warriors to pull away and win its season opener.
“We’re young and inexperienced, and we’re going to have to be patient,” said Woodbridge coach Eric Bangs. “Jasmine and Anjali had a little bit of nerves in the first half, but they played much better in the second half. We started making shots, and it’s a lot easier when you make shots.”
The Warriors’ defense, led by senior forward Annika Walker, forced 28 turnovers and did not allow the Mustangs to score a basket in the first and fourth quarters. Yorba Linda was able to muster only seven free throws in the opening and final quarters.

Walker was steady for Woodbridge as she pulled down 10 rebounds and scored six points.
Karah Griffiths’ basket beat the buzzer to end the third quarter as Yorba Linda closed the gap to 27-23 after three periods.

Ghadi and Lauren Lum (six points each) drilled a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter as Woodbridge increased its lead to 33-23 with 6:30 to play.

The Warriors defense forced the Mustangs to turn the ball over on five of its first six possessions of the quarter and take control of the game. In the meantime, Walker hit a basket and Rachal nailed a 3-pointer. Woodbridge upped its lead to 39-24 with 3:31 left and eased to victory.
“I like the way we made defensive adjustments in the second half,” Bangs said.

Woodbridge's Annika Walker tries to block the shot attempt from Yorba Linda's Katlyn Ramos during a South Coast Holiday Classic game at Woodbridge High School on Monday.

, FOSTER SNELL, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Woodbridge's Jasmine Rachal reaches to catch a pass during a South Coast Holiday Classic game.

 FOSTER SNELL, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

TIPOFF 2014

Original article located on OCRegister.com