The setting was different but the results were the same as a week ago — the Santa Monica High boys and girls basketball teams defeating a league opponent in a doubleheader before a capacity crowd.
A week after dispatching the Inglewood teams at Samohi, the Viking teams went on the road and won games from Culver City Friday night.
But the girls had to put down a challenge, and they did it with three-point shooting.
After scoring the game’s first 11 points, Samohi appeared to be in for an easy night. Instead, Culver City pulled within three points, 28-25 in the third quarter, sparked by guard Savanna Erskine’s pair of three-point shots.
That’s when Coach Marty Verdugo’s team responded. Lilly Feder made a couple of three-pointers and Moriah Faulk a layup.
With the Vikings ahead 50-44 in the fourth quarter they scored the next eight points.
The players are well acquainted with each other from off-season competition and the backcourt duel between Erskine and Samohi’s Thea Lemberger was a treat to watch.
Lemberger has signed a letter of intent with UCLA and what separates her from other quality guards is her ability to drive through a defense. Her ability to penetrate Culver City’s defense led to several twisting layups.
Erskine’s father, Alan, was once Bay League Player of the Year for Santa Monica and Verdugo says he would have been happy if Savanna had played for Samohi too. But the family lives close to Culver City High.
“I’m happy that things worked out for Savanna and she’s going to play in college too,” said Verdugo.
Mitch Chortkoff
Mirror Sports Editorsports@smmirror.com
