El Camino Real Tattoos Grant Behind Aguinaga

Christina Aguinaga played with the words “El Camino Real Basketball” stamped on her upper arm, courtesy of a temporary tattoo given to her by her grandfather.

The Conquistadores’ junior guard put her own stamp on El Camino Real High’s 74-65 victory over Grant in a girls’ basketball game Tuesday at Grant.

Aguinaga finished with 37 points, five rebounds and five assists, El Camino Real built a 22-point halftime lead and held on.

“That’s the game I wanted,” Aguinaga said. “This is what I want to do every game.”

The Conquistadores (2-0) were in control after the Lancers spotted El Camino Real a 19-4 advantage after the first quarter and trailed, 42-20, at halftime.

El Camino Real made 19 of 31 shots (61.3%) in the first half, compared to 27.6% on eight of 29 shooting by Grant.

“We just dug too deep a hole to get out of,” said Leslie Mui of Grant (2-3), who scored 12 points, all on three-point baskets.

Grant (2-3) staged several rallies in the second half but was stopped short each time by Aguinaga, who averaged 15.4 points, 3.2 assists and three steals as a sophomore after being academically ineligible as a freshman.

Grant trailed, 53-35, with 2:31 left in the third quarter but Alexis Weatherspoon and Kathleen Mallon sparked an 8-0 spurt that got Grant to within 53-43.

Aguinaga responded by hitting a three-point basket at the buzzer to end the quarter.

Grant got as close as 68-62 with 35 seconds left.

But two free throws by Karen Shun, who scored 15 points, and a layup and two free throws by Aguinaga held the Lancers at bay.

Kathleen Mallon scored 18 points and Weatherspoon had 15 points and 10 rebounds for Grant.