CIF GIRLS' CHAMPIONSHIP: CHATSWORTH COMES UP SHORT IN TITLE QUEST NARBONNE PLAYS SPOILER AGAIN NARBONNE 53, CHATSWORTH 43.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

INGLEWOOD - Unlike in previous years, no huge talent gap existed on Saturday between Chatsworth High and Narbonne of Harbor City - no sense that the Gauchos seemed to be playing a more highly evolved game.

But that fact only made defeat more difficult for Chatsworth to accept, as the Chancellors played the Gauchos even for long stretches but finally fell 53-43 in the City Section girls' basketball championship game at the Forum.

For the third time in four years, the Gauchos (21-8) ended the championship hopes of the Chancellors (24-5), who lost to Narbonne in the 2002 title game and the 2003 semifinals.

``We knew what (the Gauchos) were going to do, but we just didn't take advantage,'' Chatsworth junior Cherelle Hayes said. ``We just make too many mistakes that hurt us.''

Hopes were high that this year would be different, since the Chancellors were seeded first, one spot above the Gauchos. Narbonne won its fifth title in six years. Chatsworth and Narbonne will advance to the state tournament, which begins Tuesday.

Narbonne succeeded in holding Chatsworth's two best players in check. Senior forward Alisha Bryant didn't make a field goal and finished with one point and senior forward Krystle Mays had six points and eight rebounds.

``When you play a game like this, your top eight to 10 players all need to show up and play well, and I'm not sure we got that,'' Chatsworth coach Raquel Alotis said. ``We wanted to play the way we practiced, but we made too many mistakes. I'm proud of what we did. This is the best team we've had at Chatsworth.''

Junior guard Ayana Wrighster stepped up with 14 points, five rebounds and four steals, but she was the only Chatsworth player to score more than seven points. Chatsworth led 7-6 but never again as Narbonne slowly pulled away, leading by four at halftime and six after three quarters.

Morghan Medlock, a junior forward, scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Gauchos, who also received 11 points, 12 rebounds and three steals from sophomore forward Ifunaya Ibekwe.

``(Chatsworth) definitely deserved the No. 1 seed, but this was big for us,'' Narbonne coach James Anderson said. ``We were expected to win last year, and we didn't, so I'm really proud right now.''

Both teams looked nervous early and played sloppily. Mays' layup gave Chatsworth a 7-6 lead with 1:25 remaining in the first quarter, but Narbonne scored the next eight points and never trailed again.

Chatsworth came close several times. With 3:20 left in the third quarter, the Chancellors grabbed three offensive rebounds on one possession and scored to cut Narbonne's lead to 30-29, but Narbonne followed with a 6-0 run. Chatsworth also missed 12 of 17 free throws.

In the final of the Invitational bracket, Manual Arts beat Taft of Woodland Hills 40-24.

Rich Hammond, [phone]

rich.hammond(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Chatsworth High's Morgan Bennett hangs her head after losing to Narbonne in the CIF City Championship game.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer