Vikings cruise past Warren in non-league matchup

Downey’s Bella Mejia drives toward the basket as she is guarded by Warren’s Ruby Noriego (0) in a girls basketball nonleague game on Monday. Downey defeated Warren, 76-40. (Photo by Luna Esquivias)

DOWNEY – The Downey High School girls basketball team took a break from Gateway League action Monday (January 12) and hosted cross town rival Warren.

The Vikings defeated the Bears, 76-40, to improve to 13-5 overall.

Leading the way for Downey was sophomore guard Natalie Gomez with a game-high 26 points, 10 rebounds10 steals, four deflections and three assists.

“Natalie has been our leading scorer all year,” Downey coach Nate Harris said. “She is relentless.”

Also in double figures for the Vikings was three players – sophomore guard Bella Mejia with 17 points, junior guard Amaya Hernandez (2 3-pointers) and senior guard Emily Carbajal with 14 points each. Carbajal also had a game high four 3-pointers, all in the season-high 27-point second quarter. The team connected for nine long range baskets in the game.

“The 27-points are a pretty good quarter,” Harris said. “We hit shots.”

Carbajal now has 17 3-pointers on the season.

“We came out with good energy and got a couple of steals,” Harris said, of the first quarter. “In the second quarter Emily’s four 3-pointers was nice and our defense was flying around. I was waiting for this from Emily – I’m not surprised.”

Leading the way for Warren (10-8) was senior forward Aliyah Lopez with 14 points (2 3-pointers). Juniors Mia De La Cruz and Isabela Jimenez (2 3-pointers) scored seven and six points, respectively, while senior center Sarahi De Anda and junior guard Ruby Noriega had four points each.

The Vikings opened up an 8-0 lead, led by three buckets by Gomez, and eventually built up a 13-3 lead.

Warren ended the quarter with an 8-5 run, led by three free throws and two late baskets by Noriega and Lopez. Lopez hit the first of her two consecutive three’s with the first with only five seconds remaining in the quarter. Downey led 18-11 after the opening quarter.

The second 3-pointer by Lopez came in the first 10 seconds of the second quarter to close within four points, 18-14, which would be the closest the Bears would come to Downey the rest of the way.

After the first of the three pointers by Carbajal, the Vikings went on a scoring frenzy with the 27 points. Three more long-range baskets by Carbajal and seven and six points, respectively by Gomez and Bella Mejia led to the big quarter for the Vikings.

Lopez led the Bears with seven points, which included a three-pointer.

Downey built up a 20-point, 45-25 lead at the half.

In the third quarter, the Vikings outscored Warren again, 18-11, highlighted by eight points from Gomez.

Lopez led the Bears with four points in the quarter, as they trailed, 63-36.

The Bears managed only a pair of free throws and one basket in the fourth quarter, while Bella Mejia led with seven points.

Downey (1-0) continues Gateway League action with a game at Paramount Wednesday (Results not available due to deadline) and will host Lynwood on Friday (Jan. 16), while Warren will host Norwalk in the San Gabriel Valley League Wednesday (Results not available due to press deadline) and travel to Firebaugh Friday (Jan. 16).