Girls’ basketball: Gardena Serra wins 3AA title

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Gardena Serra has upset Santa Maria St. Joseph 66-58 in the Southern Section Division 3AA championship game at the Anaheim Convention Center.

St. Joseph’s star center Alyson Beebe fouled out early in the fourth quarter and Serra took full advantage, outscoring the Knights 24-12 in the final 6:39 to pull off the upset. Beebe had 18 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks when she was whistled for her fifth personal with St. Joseph leading 46-42.

Sophomore guard Sierra Thompson led the second-seeded Cavaliers (27-5) with 28 points, five steals and two assists and was a perfect nine-for-nine from the free throw line. Rejane Verin added 12 points and 10 rebounds and Simone Thompson had eight points and five rebounds for Serra, which needed overtime to beat Pomona Diamond Ranch 82-70 in the semifinals.

Tatiana Dunlap had 14 points and Heather Madrigal added 11 points and eight rebounds for the top-seeded Knights (24-6), who won their first four playoff games by an average of 24.2 points.

Thompson gave the Cavaliers the lead for good, 53-51, on a three-pointer with 4:30 left.

-- Steve Galluzzo