ALEMANY REACHES RARE AIR WITH COLLINS SURPRISE ASCENT CONTINUES AGAINST TOP-SEEDED AMAT.Byline: Gideon Rubin Special to the Daily News Brittany Collins says it all looks different at 6,000 feet. ``All the buildings look miniature,'' she says. ``It's kind of hard to describe. They don't really look very realistic.'' Collins, an aspiring as·pire intr.v. as·pired, as·pir·ing, as·pires 1. To have a great ambition or ultimate goal; desire strongly: aspired to stardom. 2. commercial pilot, spends much of the year pursuing a passion encouraged by grandfather Merrill Kilpatrick, a former pilot. She flies limited cross-country flights alone in single-engine Cessna and Piper planes and soon expects to receive a private piloting license that will allow her to soar to higher elevations. But first she wants to help Alemany High of Mission Hills' girls' basketball team to new heights. Collins, a senior power forward, is among the reasons Alemany (19-6) has emerged among girls prep basketball's big surprise stories. The Indians, ranked No. 10 by the Daily News, will play top-seeded and nationally ranked Bishop Amat of La Puente La Puente (lä pwĕn`tē), city (1990 pop. 36,955), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles; laid out 1841, inc. 1956. Primarily residential, the city manufactures hardware, electronics, and paper products. (30-1) in the Southern Section Div. III-A championship Saturday afternoon at the Pyramid at Long Beach State. Since an unremarkable 5-5 start, Alemany, the No. 7 seed, has won 14 of 15 games, including its past 10. The run has included upsets of Mission League rival Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks (ranked No. 3 by the Daily News), No. 2-seeded Santa Ynez in the quarterfinals and No. 3 Muir of Pasadena in the semifinals. Alemany is in the title game for the first time since winning its third section title in six years in 1998. The 5-foot-11 Collins, who averages 9.7 points and 10 rebounds, had a breakthrough performance in the 51-47 victory over Muir, which qualified Alemany for the state tournament. She scored 16 points on 8-for-8 shooting, pulled down 11 rebounds and added three assists and two steals. Her coaches said she showcased some of her post moves in a game situation for the first time in a three-year varsity career. Her energy and grittiness grit·ty adj. grit·ti·er, grit·ti·est 1. Containing, covered with, or resembling grit. 2. Showing resolution and fortitude; plucky: a gritty decision. rubbed off on her teammates, who matched Muir's toughness. Collins suffered a fractured nose in the Muir game. ``She took her game to another level,'' Alemany coach Brandie Murrish said. ``To watch her do that in a big game against a quality opponent was pretty special.'' Collins has taken on an enforcer-type role that seems an odd fit for her mild-mannered personality. She said her mother, Susan, encouraged her to mix it up more. ``I felt bad,'' Collins said. ``I wanted to be nice to people, but after my junior year, I saw what I was capable of. I'm not trying to hurt anybody, but if I can move them out of the way, then they're going.'' Her game is not simply based on brawn brawn n. 1. Solid and well-developed muscles, especially of the arms and legs. 2. Muscular strength and power. 3. Chiefly British The meat of a boar. 4. Headcheese. . She is a capable ballhandler, a good passer, and a proficient pro·fi·cient adj. Having or marked by an advanced degree of competence, as in an art, vocation, profession, or branch of learning. n. An expert; an adept. perimeter shooter. ``She's not your typical post player,'' senior guard Shawn Berina said. ``She can do anything a (small forward) or a (shooting guard The Shooting guard (SG), also known as the two or off guard,[1] is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. ) can do.'' Collins said her plans to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) is a not-for-profit, non-sectarian, coeducational private university with a history dating back to the early days of aviation. in Prescott, Ariz., are on hold because the school does not have a basketball program. She said she has her whole life to pursue piloting, and a narrower window for pursuing basketball. She can't hide her zeal Zeal Bows, Mr. crippled fiddler with intense feelings. [Br. Lit.: Pendennis] Cedric of Rotherwood zealous about restoring Saxon independence. [Br. for either. ``I get the same rush when I'm taking the ball to the basket as if I'm taking off on the runway,'' Collins said. ``I feel the same amount of power and control.'' Gideon Rubin, (818)713-3607 gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Alemany senior Brittany Collins had 16 points and 11 rebounds against Muir in a Div A DIV Associate of Divinity . III-A semifinal win. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer Box: TODAY'S GAMES |
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