Alotis Recalls Unbeaten Feeling

For Chatsworth High girls’ basketball Coach Raquel Alotis, the prospect of facing Narbonne, ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today, in the semifinals of the City playoffs today doesn’t bring on trepidation.

It brings back fond memories.

Alotis, a 25-year-old in her second season as coach, played on a team held in equally high regard as a senior at Peninsula High in 1991-92. The Panthers went 33-0, won the state title and were ranked No. 1 nationally.

“I remember being in that situation,” Alotis said, recalling not-long-ago days with the Panthers.

“To us, it wasn’t ever a doubt. We knew we were going to win. There’s just so much confidence involved. I’m sure Narbonne’s feeling that way too.”

Narbonne was ineligible for postseason play last year as a penalty for violating CIF rules in the 1997-98 season. The team also was stripped of the City Section 4-A Division and state Division I titles it won that year.

But the Panthers recovered nicely, posting a 28-0 record going into today’s City semifinal against Chatsworth at L.A. Southwest College. They have beaten opponents by an average margin of 74-31.

Narbonne’s lineup features USC-bound Ebony Hoffman, who averages 14 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots. Other starters include LaTasha O’Keith, who is headed to California, and Columbia-bound Adrianna Fike. Loree Moore, a 5-9 junior point guard, averages 12 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Reserve Syreeta Stafford has signed with Colorado.

“You don’t ever want to go into a game thinking, ‘We don’t have a chance,’ so this tough,” Alotis said. “They’re going to be tough, but we’ll just focus on what we can do and see what happens.”

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TODAY’S PLAYOFF MATCHUPS

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

City Championship

Semifinals

Chatsworth vs. Narbonne at L.A. Southwest College, 4:30 p.m.

Southern Section

Quarterfinals

Division I-AA

Camarillo at Lynwood

Semifinals

Division II-A

Laguna Hills vs. Newbury Park at Thousand Oaks High

Division III-AA

Rosary vs. Alemany at Harvard-Westlake

Harvard-Westlake vs. Bishop Montgomery

at Mira Costa High

Division IV-AA

Cerritos Valley Chr. vs. Oak Park

Games at 7:30 unless noted