Dons knock off Westmoor

"This is big," said Laura Zasly. "We've been waiting for this game since last year. It's so fun to play these games. This was one of the toughest games we've played all year."

Laura Zasly had a huge game, scoring a game-high 27 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. But her supporting cast was equally as effective and did the most damage when it counted the most. Katie Zasly scored only seven points but they all came in the second half. Post player Melissa Johnson scored only eight points and pulled down eight rebounds, but four of her points came in the fourth quarter, her second basket giving the Dons their first lead of the game, 40-39, with 5:59 to play. Five of her eight rebounds came in the second half as well. The Dons other post player Andrea Ching, who struggled most of the game -- especially at the free throw line where she was 0 for 6 -- scored only four points. But her basket with 1:39 left to play was the final points of the game. She also pulled down three of her six rebounds in the second half.

"The whole team played well," said Aragon coach Annette Gennaro-Trimble. "Whenever you play Westmoor, they're such a good team, when you beat them you feel good about yourself."

Westmoor coach Corey Cafferata, however was on the opposite end of the feel-good spectrum.

"We got our asses kicked. We were heartless and gutless," Cafferata said. "They outworked us. They wanted it more. They took it from us. We were horrible tonight."

The way the game started, it appeared it would be another Westmoor romp. The Rams dismantled Mills 55-29 in the first round of the tournament Wednesday and jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead Friday as they hit their first four shots and led 10-2 with 3:38 left in the first quarter.

The Rams pressure defense, meanwhile, killed Aragon. The Dons committed six turnovers before getting off their first shot. Aragon managed only nine points in the first quarter and trailed 17-9 going into the second.

"I told them to relax. I think they were a little excited," Gennaro-Trimble said.

The Dons came out with a purpose in the second quarter and the Rams made things a bit easier by taking the press off. Aragon responded by starting the quarter with a 9-1 run to tie the game at 18 with 4:38 left in the first half.

The Rams answered by outscoring the Dons 6-2 over the final 4:10 to take a 24-20 lead at halftime.

The game really heated up in the third quarter but as the second half wore on, Aragon turned the momentum of the game by using a half-court trap against Westmoor point guard Daniela Nopuente. As soon as Nopuente crossed halfcourt, the Zasly's double-teamed her, forcing Nopuente to give the ball up. It was the turning point in the game because Nopuente is one of the best players on the Peninsula in creating her own shot. With the ball out of her hands, the Dons forced the rest of the Rams to beat them. Nopuente scored 13 points, but had only four in the second half.

"We didn't do a very job with [the half-court trap] in the first half," Gennaro-Trimble said.

The score was tied at 36 heading into the final quarter. There were five lead changes and a tie in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, but a Laura Zasly 3-pointer put Aragon ahead to stay, 45-42, with 3:18 to play.

"When you beat a team like Westmoor, who's beaten so many good teams, it makes you feel like you can beat good teams," Zasly said.<