Senior Jackie George, the 6-foot-1 center for the Leland girls basketball team, came into her own in the Chargers' 55-51 win over the Del Mar Dons on Jan. 14, finishing the night with an astounding 29 points.

"Jackie is an outstanding player," said Del Mar head coach Reggie Synegal. She nearly doubled the point total of the next highest scorer on her team.

"George recently came off of an ankle injury," said Leland head coach Wade Nakamura. "It took her a few games to get back into her rhythm, but she found it tonight."

Sophomore Kristen Yoshioka supported with 16 points after only scoring five points in the first half, including the only two points for Leland in the first quarter not scored by George. Yoshioka hit three from behind the arc for nine of her points.

But Leland certainly didn't have a walk in park against the Dons. The Chargers actually trailed 15-13 after the first quarter, but took control in the second period to lead 32-28 at the half. Leland extended its lead throughout the third quarter, outscoring the Dons 15-6. The Dons made a valiant effort to come back in the fourth, but trailing by as much as 16, it was too little too late and Leland picked up its third win of the season.

The other 10 points came from a combined effort of four girls. Junior Mika Yanai scored four points for the Chargers, by way of a three-pointer and a free throw. Sophomore Meggie Yoshioka hit two from the line for her two points, while sophomore Amanda Do and junior Hilary Barnes each hit a field goal from inside the paint for their two points apiece.

The Chargers' main problem came in the form of sophomore Kellene Condie of Del Mar. Condie was nearly point for point with George in the first half, scoring 15 points to George's 20. But Leland "made some adjustments," according to Nakamura, and was able to hold Condie to two points in the second half.

Leland was to face Leigh on Jan. 19, which promised to be a "big game," said Nakamura. Both teams were entering the game with unblemished 3-0 records in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League, but one team would walk away unhappy.

The Chargers were happy with their outcome earlier last week when they walked away with a 49-33 win over Oak Grove. Leland, now 8-7 for the year, was led by George in that one, too, as the Chargers outscored the Eagles in each of the four quarters.

George poured in a game-high 22 points, pounding down 10 shots from the field and adding two points at the free-throw line.

K. Yoshioka supported with nine points in the win, including five from the line. Yanai added seven points, M. Yoshioka had five, Kelly Ricco four and Amber Barbieri two.

After facing Leigh earlier this week, Leland will be on the road to visit Pioneer for a league game on Jan. 21, 7 p.m., before returning home on Jan. 26 for a key 7 p.m. game against Westmont. The Mustangs are winless in three league games, but the Warriors boast a 2-2 league ledger.

Over in the Santa Teresa Division of the BVAL, Branham split a pair of games last week. The Bruins handled Andrew Hill 55-39, but earlier in the week lost a 55-46 overtime heartbreaker to Mt. Pleasant.

Branham outscored Hill in every period on the road to the 16-point win over the Falcons last week. Sophomore guard Oly Larkin led the Bruins with 16 points, including four at the line. Junior post player Paulina Kotula tossed in six buckets for 12 points and sophomore Sammy Snook added five shots for 10 points.

Senior Christina Griffith was close behind with nine points, Cortnie Kampe added four and Melissa Enko and Bina Madzar had two apiece.

Larkin had 18 points and Kotula 14, but only four Bruins could get into the scoring column in the tough loss to unbeaten Mt. Pleasant.

Branham fought back from a 15-9 first-quarter deficit to outscore the Cards 17-6 to lead by five at the half, 26-21. The Bruins stretched their lead by seven more in the third only to get outscored 15-3 in the fourth as Mt. Pleasant tied it 41-41 by the end of regulation. The Cardinals topped the Bruins 12-5 in the extra period to claim the overtime win.

Larkin pitched in six buckets from the floor and added six points at the free-throw line to finish with her team-high 18. Kotula had a three-pointer among her four field goals and she added five points at the line for 14. Kampe chipped in with eight points and Griffith had six.

The Bruins, 2-2 in the division and 7-6 for the year, were to visit Willow Glen on Tuesday and will be back home to face Gunderson on Jan. 20, 7 p.m. Branham is on the road to face Silver Creek on Jan. 25, 7 p.m.