The562’s coverage of Jordan Athletics is sponsored by former LBUSD superintendent Chris Steinhauser and the Timu Foundation.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
With a shot at making their mark on the Jordan girls’ basketball program – seniors Jah’asharee Moore and Janiah Lorn didn’t let the opportunity go to waste.
Heading into their regular season finale against Wilson with a shot at winning a share of the Moore League title, Moore and Lorn lifted their team to a 35-30 win over the Bruins Tuesday night at Compton College.
“We did put this hard work in,” Jordan senior Jah’sharee Moore said. “The goal was not to focus on this game specifically but we need to focus on the game ahead. Focus on the moment, play by play. We weren’t too focused too far ahead. Now we’re here – we did it. Not much more to say.”
“Both of us were really proud,” Jordan senior Janiah Lorn added. “We’ve both been part of the varsity program for four years. We’ve had to go through losses – tough losses. We got our get back this year.”
Jordan never trailed in the contest and got a lift from Moore (10) and Lorn (11) who both scored in double figures to clinch a league title for the Panthers for the first time since 1996.
“It was just it kind of all at once hit me,” Jordan coach Wes Rosenbaum said of leading the Panthers to a league title. “You see a lot of faces in the crowd of people coming to see you who’ve maybe started with us and was there. I’m just so incredibly proud of our girls, they’re just so tough. They represent what we’re about, they represent our school. I believed in them and they believed in me.”
The Panthers had a collective effort to keep the Bruins at arms length throughout. After making four free throws as a team, Jordan led 6-5 after the first quarter of action.
Wilson went on a 5-2 run to start the second period and after Emily Alvarez-Smith drilled a 3-pointer, the Bruins took their only lead at 10-8.
Moore and Lorn took turns giving the Panthers a lead as they scored eight and five points, respectively as they led 15-14 at halftime. The senior duo continued to apply the pressure after the break as Jordan took their biggest of the night – 22-16.
A quick blitz at the start of the fourth was enough to push the game out of reach for Wilson as the Panthers took a 31-23 lead. Freshman Natalie Maciel played some big minutes late in midway through the fourth as she scored five points during Jordan’s late run.
“Jordan’s a really good team,” Wilson coach Hank Waddles said. “They should be pretty proud of what they accomplished this season. That’s their first Moore League title in more than 20 years and that’s what we aspire to, to be competing for league championships.”
Both teams will now await their postseason opponents when the brackets are released on Saturday at noon.
