Saugus senior guard Jasmine Garcia already broke a record earlier in the season when she made the most’ 3-point shots through a five-game stretch to begin the season. And on Friday, the senior guard made history once again for the most threes made in a game by a girls’ basketball player in Foothill League history with 30 points in the 79-39 win over Golden Valley.
“When you have a shooter like Jasmine Garcia hit 10 threes and set the boys’ and girls’ school record, it’s pretty sweet,” Saugus head coach Anthony Falasca said.
In the win, Garcia shot 10 for 16 from the 3-point line and had the Saugus (14-7, 5-1) bench erupting in excitement for every shot.
Once Garcia made her 10th three-pointer in the fourth quarter, Falasca called a timeout for the team to celebrate as she made Foothill League history.
“At halftime I checked that she had five, not thinking that we were going to set records. She already holds the record at seven.” Falasca said. “Then the team says, let’s get her 10 and when you have a team that is that dialed in with each other and understanding what’s going on in the game, but yet not worried about yourself, that’s a special team.”
In total, the Centurions scored 17 three-pointers in the win as EvaMarie Rios was second on the team in scoring with 19 points, five rebounds, eight assists.
After the game, Falasca revealed that when he first became the head coach of girls’ basketball at Saugus, he wanted a team that was disciplined in creating good shot opportunities.
One of the first goals he told boosters he wanted to invest in was a basketball machine, a device that shoots a ball toward a player continuously without the athlete having to rebound the ball themselves.
“I had a mentor that played at Master’s College, played for the Lakers, and I asked him one time, ‘Why are you such a good shooter?’” Falasca said. “He said he had a Dr. Dish shooting machine, one of the first ever made. And so, when I got to Saugus four years ago, that was the first purchase that we bought as a booster club, was a shooting machine that I don’t have to rebound. And that they don’t have to rebound for themselves.”
With the win, the Centurions improved to 5-1 in Foothill League play and completed the first half as they look to finish the latter part of the season strong.
The Centurions have a scheduled bye on Tuesday and pick up league play again on Friday on the road against Castaic.
Falasca added that his team is clicking on all cylinders, and he believes they’re one of the most dangerous teams in the valley.
“I don’t know that I’d want to play us coming into the second half. I like to play chess. Some of these other coaches are playing checkers,” he said. “We have a big focus for our second half. We circled a couple of games. They know who they are, and they’re ready for us, and I guarantee we’re circled, too.”
As for Golden Valley (10-8, 1-4), the Grizzlies play again on Tuesday against the Vikings at Valencia with tip-off scheduled for 5 p.m.
After Friday night’s games, here are scores from around the Foothill League:
Valencia 82, Canyon 55: The Vikings (15-3, 5-0) secured the double-digit win at home against the Canyon Cowboys (10-10, 3-2).
The Vikings were led in scoring by Kamilla Basyrova, who had 29 points, and Cara McKell, who dropped 25 points.
The Vikings play again at home against Golden Valley while the Cowboys match up on the road against the Castaic Coyotes.
Both games are on Tuesday, and tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Hart 55, Castaic 5: The Hawks (7-13, 2-3) won big at home over the Castaic Coyotes (4-11, 0-5).
The Hawks will look to continue their winning ways at home, hosting the Wildcats on Tuesday with tip-off at 5 p.m.
As for Castaic, the Coyotes will want to bounce back as they host the Canyon Cowboys Tuesday at 5 p.m.
Photos below from the Centurion’s win over Golden Valley:
