Alemany, Harvard-Westlake Take to the Road

A familiar path, a familiar opponent, a familiar challenge.

For the second consecutive season, Harvard-Westlake High will begin the Southern Regional Division III girls’ basketball playoffs at San Diego Kearny, where the Wolverines must contend with high-scoring Triola Alexander. Game time is 7 tonight.

Last season, Harvard-Westlake escaped with a 73-62 victory despite allowing 46 points to Alexander, a 6-foot-2 swing player who has committed to St. Mary’s.

“That girl is a scoring machine,” said Coach Brian Taylor of Harvard-Westlake.

Few have stopped Alexander, who is averaging 30 points and 10 rebounds after leading the Comets to their third consecutive San Diego Section title.

Kearny defeated University of San Diego High, 47-35, for its section championship on Saturday.

Harvard-Westlake hasn’t played since a loss to Bishop Montgomery on Feb. 26 in the Southern Section III-AA semifinals.

L’Tanya Robnett and Brooke Porter have carried the scoring load this season, combining to average 35 points, and will need big games for the Wolverines (22-8) to contend.

All five starters return for Kearny (16-13), which is 27-2 on the court but had to forfeit 11 games because of an ineligible player. Nine of those victories were by 30 points or more.

Kearny has never won a state playoff game. Harvard-Westlake is seeking its third consecutive trip to the regional final, but has a size disadvantage against a Kearny lineup that features three starters 6-1 or taller.

Kearny’s Elainea Washington, ineligible earlier this season after her transfer from La Jolla High, is averaging 13 points. Freshman point guard Latasha Lewis is contributing 10 points per game.

The winner will advance to the regional semifinals on Thursday against either Fullerton Rosary or University of San Diego.