They didn’t make a lot of them, but they nailed them when they needed to.
Jennifer Jimenez nailed a 3-pointer with 20 seconds reamining in Saturday’s championship game of the Bishop Diego/Laguna Blanca Tournament, giving the Cardinals (5-2) a 48-46 win over La Reina. It was Bishop’s second consecutive tournament title.Bishop Diego was a dismal 6-for-23 from long range in the game.
“We were only down by one, so it was one of those shots that when she took it I was thinking ‘no, no, no’ but when it went in I was saying ‘yes, yes, yes,'” said coach Jeff Burich.
The coach compared sophomore Courtney Houston to Vinnie “The Microwave” Johnson, a Detroit Piston from the 1980s who earned the nickname because he could provide “instant” offense and defense coming off the bench.
“She had 11 points on Friday night and 14 tonight. She just hustles all over the place, and I can’t say enough about her,” he said.
The Cardinals were down 45-40 in the final minutes, but battled back and tied it at 45 apiece thanks to a trey by Heather Aijian. Jimenez later hit her longball to put the Cards up, and Ariel Perez nabbed a steal to seal the game.
Janelle Kohler finished with eight points and 15 rebounds and was honored with the tournament’s MVP award after the game. Jimenez was selected to the All-Tournament squad. The whole Cardinals team was rewarded with dinner at the Elephant Bar.
BISHOP DIEGO 48, LA REINA 46
BISHOP DIEGO–Breuer 4, Houston 14, Perez 2, Aijian 6, Kohler 8, Stinson 2, Jimenez 12. Totals 17 8-17 48.
LA REINA–Cobeligh 16, HJohnson 3, Delsohn 1, Jankowski 9, MJophnson 5, Violand 12. Totals 19 6-20 46.
BD….8 17 9 14 – 48
LR…..4 15 12 15 – 46
3-point goals — BD 6 (Houston 2, Aijian 2, Jimenez 2), LR (Cobleigh).
Total fouls — BD 20, LR 16.
Team Record — BD 5-2.
