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Thanks to Iloff, Huskies end season on positive note


Montebello High School product Megan Iloff led East L.A. College to a 65-62 victory over L.A. City with 26 points in the season finale. The freshman guard averaged 19.2 points per game this season.

Wave Staff Report 28.FEB.08

What has been a trying season ended on a positive note for the East L.A. College women’s basketball team.

The Huskies completed a season in which they went 10-19 overall and 2-6 in the South Coast Conference North Division with a 65-62 victory over visiting L.A. City Friday.

Megan Iloff scored 22 of her game-high 26 points in the second half to lead the way for ELAC.

The standout freshman guard from Montebello High School also had eight rebounds, seven assists and five steals. Playing on a team that finished the season with only seven players, the Huskies relied heavily on Iloff, who hardly came off the floor. She averaged 19.2 points per game.

“It was a very tiring season,” Iloff said. “We had only seven players, but we worked hard and finished strong. I’m very proud of the team and I’m going to miss our two sophomores.”

Iloff led the Huskies, who had lost four straight games, back from a 14-point halftime deficit.

“I couldn’t believe how bad we were playing,” she said. “We played like individuals in the first half. At halftime we talked about coming together and playing like a team.”

Coach Bruce Turner adjusted the Husky defense to slow down the hot-shooting Cubs, who got 21 points from Marsha Haywood in the first half and led 38-24 at the break.

“We matched up on their two shooters and defended the other three with a zone,” said Turner, who was assisted this season by Ed Watts and Geri Montanio. “The kids went out and executed the plan well once we drew it up for them.”

The move paid off, as the Huskies limited Haywood to only three points in the second half. They also employed a full-court press that caused several turnovers.

The Huskies chipped away at the 14-point disadvantage and were down by only six points with two minutes to play. After a three-point basket by Yashika Ellis (Bravo High) got them to within 62-59, Kaylin Kanemaru, off a pass from Iloff, drilled another three-pointer to tie the score, 62-62, with 1:04 remaining.

Iloff came up with her fifth steal of the game and passed to Kanemaru, who was fouled. Kanemaru made the first free throw to put ELAC ahead, 63-62. Needing a stop, Ellis blocked a shot that Iloff rebounded. Iloff was fouled and she stepped to the line and converted on two free throw attempts to seal the victory. She was a perfect 6-for-6 at the line in the second half.

The blocked shot was Ellis’ fourth of the game. The sophomore forward also had 11 points and six rebounds. Kanemaru scored 10 points and was credited with seven rebounds and five steals. Zantika Ellis (Bravo) and Melanie Gallegos (Garfield) added eight points each.

The Ellis twins are the only sophomores on the team.