The Culver City varsity girls basketball team is on a 14-0 run and into the semi-finals for the third year in a row.
The seventh-seed Centaurs traveled to third-seed Norco on Tuesday for the semifinals, where they won 68-55 to advance to the CIF finals, Friday, 8 p.m., at Godinez High School in Santa Ana.
Previous playoff wins for the Centaurs include first round on February 22 versus Elsinore at large. Michelle Curry had 25 points (13 of them in the first quarter) and 12 rebounds, Junior Lindsey Tanita and Sophomore Kailey Tooke each added 11 points.
The second round ended in a win over tenth seed Eisenhower, 58-37. Kelsey Ueda, Curry, and Tooke each had 12 points with Tooke also adding on 7 steals.
The quarterfinals last Saturday were going to be a challenge for the Centaurs as they were facing second-seed Foothill. Curry received two early fouls to put Culver into an early hole. Head Coach Julian Anderson said that the team needed to work harder for rebounds. During the first quarter the Centaurs had to find their groove as it ended 10-11.
“The game plan did not change at all with Michelle’s early foul trouble,” said Assistant Coach Mark Kitabayashi. “We had to make adjustments in personnel and defensive assignments, but Julian and I had those contingencies addressed before the game.”
Early in the second quarter the girls came out with an 8-0 run. The Centaurs led at the half with a score of 27-20.
“I was angry because at least two of the fouls were horrible calls, but I knew I had to get over it and just play the game smarter,” says Curry.
The Centaurs held their largest lead of 13 points in the third quarter, and finished the game 57-49.
A free bus ride from the school will take fans to the game against Norco for those who buy a game ticket at on campus. This is the second consecutive year the Centaurs have advanced to the championship game.