By Jenny Tran
In an electrifying game on Monday, the girls’ basketball team defeated Corona Del Mar (CdM) in a close 48-46 victory. While the Sea Kings kept a noticeable lead on the Barons the entire game, they made a comeback and grabbed hold of the victory at the last second.
Notable players include Seniors Margaret Tengan with 21 points and Audrey Tengan with 20 points.
“I wish we had a better start, but I feel like sometimes that happens when you have Senior Night. There are a lot of emotions.” Head Coach Marianne Karp said. “And then we made some adjustments at half-time that really helped the Tengans get open a little bit better. I [also] thought our post players did a better job offensively.”
With this win, the Barons took over first place in the Surf League. This game was also the girls’ senior night where they honored seniors Sarah Henry, Sariah Loftis, Ashley Nguyen, May Sulaiman, Audrey Tengan, Margaret Tengan and Hannah Walsh.
The gymnasium was packed to the brim with a large audience; the stands swelled with enthusiasm as the teams prepared to face off each other in what was going to be a thrilling game.
The first quarter opened with a tip off to the Barons. The game started in a fast-paced manner as both teams hurried to grab hold of the ball. Corona Del Mar scored the first shot of the game with a three-pointer.
Walsh then made the first shot for the Barons with a free throw with six minutes and 54 seconds left.
After a series of passes, the Sea Kings made a layup at five minutes and 56 seconds. A minute later, Audrey Tengan made a layup followed quickly by a foul on the Sea Kings. Audrey Tengan continued with two successful free throws, evening the score at 7-7.
The quarter was mainly defined by close shots, as the Barons were finding difficulty in finishing their shots. The last two shots of the quarter were made by the Sea Kings. With five seconds left, a CdM player passed the ball to the other side of the court. The player shot a two-pointer right before the timer buzzed.
The first quarter ended 7-13 with the Sea Kings in the lead.
Twenty seconds into the second quarter, a foul was called on the Sea Kings. Junior Mary Nguyen followed with a free throw. CdM then made a layup with six minutes left, bringing the score to 8-15.
Margaret Tengan made a two-pointer and free throw for the Barons with about five minutes left. Numerous steals and scuffles persisted for the rest of the quarter with both teams fighting ruthlessly to score. When a time-out was called for CdM at four minutes and 23 seconds, the score was at 13-17.
The Sea Kings proceeded with more two-pointers for the rest of the quarter. Audrey Tengan made the last shot of the quarter at 35 seconds left with a three-pointer. The Barons went into halftime down 16-23.
“When we ended the half with a long, easy bucket, we ended the second period for us to say, ‘Okay, go ahead.’” Karp said. “To come back and say, ‘We’re not going to quit.’ That’s what these kids are all about.”
The third quarter began with the ball in the Barons’ possession. CdM was fouled twenty seconds in, giving the Barons two free throws which they made. Fouls frequently occurred throughout the entire quarter; both teams gained a majority of their points from free throws.
Audrey Tengan and Margaret Tengan were the forefront of the Barons’ offensive this quarter. Audrey Tengan exceeded in free throws while Margaret Tengan secured several two-pointers. The Barons began to gradually advance on the Sea Kings; the score stood at 27-28 with one minute and 39 seconds left.
With 50 seconds left, Audrey Tengan made a fast break and shot a two-pointer, pushing the Barons into the lead at 29-28. A time-out was called for CdM with 37 seconds left.
With one second left, a foul was called on CdM and Margaret Tengan slipped in a final free throw for the third quarter. The quarter ended at 30-28, with the score now in favor of the Barons.
The fourth quarter opened with Audrey Tengan making a two-pointer. A larger number of fouls occurred this quarter, though, both sides also managed to slip into some two-pointers as well.
A time-out was called by the Barons with five minutes and 18 seconds left when the score stood at 32-34. Four more time-outs for both teams were made within the next three minutes.
At the Barons’ time-out with one minute and 36 seconds left, Audrey Tengan had just made a three-pointer. The score was still leaning toward the Sea Kings at 39-42. A foul was eventually called on them a few seconds later, and Audrey Tengan made two free throws, closing the score margin 41-42.
As tensions continued to escalate in the final minutes, the game repeatedly kept stopping due to more fouls. Within the next minute, six fouls occurred in total. By the eighteen second mark, the Sea Kings were still in the lead at 44-46.
With the ball in the Barons’ possession, the next few plays determined the fate of the game. If the Barons scored—they would either win or force an overtime. The ball rapidly shifted between the players. It fell into Audrey Tengan’s hands, and she passed it to Margaret Tengan.
Nine seconds stood on the clock when Margaret Tengan successfully made a three-pointer, ending the game 48-46 in favor of the Barons.
At the last few seconds, Corona Del Mar called a time-out and made a foul, in which Audrey Tengan made another free throw.
The game ended 48-46, earning the Lady Barons first place in the Surf League.
“I would like them to win League. We have to go play Huntington on Wednesday and then Corona Del Mar on Friday,” Karp said. “We’re hoping that we pull those two off. I know it’s cliché, but it’s one game at a time.”
The girls’ next and final game will be against Corona Del Mar at Corona Del Mar’s gymnasium on Friday at 7 p.m.
