Girls Roundup : Huntington Beach Repels Cypress Rally to Win, 47-42

Huntington Beach High School hit three consecutive baskets in the last minute to hold off a furious Cypress rally and beat the Centurions, 47-42, in the second round of the Cypress Tournament.

The win places the Oilers in one of the tournament’s semifinal games against Ocean View at 6:30 tonight.

The Oilers led by 13 at halftime and had a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Centurions managed to tie the score with 3:15 remaining after Shawn Murakoshi stole the ball from the Oiler’s Ida Vallez and went the length of the court for a layup. Cypress was able to get back in the ball game in large part due to a trapping, 2-2-1 zone that made the going tough for Huntington Beach ballhandlers.

Kelly Murray led Huntington Beach with 20 points, while Yvonne Holaday added 10 points. Leading the charge for Cypress where Colleen Kelly with 16 points and Laura Marmitt with 10 points.

The Oilers’ hot shooting down the stretch was immediately preceeded by seven consecutive turnovers by both teams midway through the final quarter.

In other Cypress Tournament action:

Lakewood 46, Warren 28--Lakewood led by only five points at halftime but outscored the Bears, 24-11, in the second half. Misty Spiloto led Warren with 12 points.

Bolsa Grande 36, Pacifica 24--Caroline Matney and Lori Weir combined for 12 and 11 points, respectively, to lead the Matadors into the semifinal round of the tournament’s consolation bracket. Bolsa Grande will face Lakewood at 2 p.m. today.

Kennedy 79, Magnolia 53--After being held to 13 points by Fountain Valley, Magnolia’s high-scoring center Michelle Carter got back on track by scoring 37 points; however, she was the Sentinels only scoring threat, and Kennedy was actually never threatened as the Fighting Irish advance to the consolation bracket’s semifinal round.

Jawanni Cousett countered Carter’s big night with 21 points of her own, while Ronnie Ahnee added 10 points.

Foothill 59, Millikan 47--This game was supposed to be a struggle between each school’s big players. However, Foothill was successful in shutting down the Rams’ twin-tower sisters, Jan and Pam Pearson, who stand 6-3 and 6-1, respectively. Millikan had to rely on guard Connie McGiffert, who led the Rams with 20 points. Jennifer Osur continued her hot shooting tear with 16 points, while Stacey Barnes had 10.

Foothill advances to the championship bracket’s semifinal round, where it will face Loara at 8 o’clock tonight.

Loara 49, Long Beach Jordan 43--Shanna Beer scored 15 points and Susan Osato added 14 as the Saxons (9-3) advanced to the semifinals, where they will face Foothill at 8 o’clock tonight.

In Costa Mesa tournament action:

Saddleback 35, Estancia 32--Grace Terrado scored 12 points for the Roadrunners, while Sandy Cerillo added 8 points to advance Saddleback to the consolation bracket’s championship game, where it will face Tustin at 3 p.m. Saturday. Karen Rundome had 12 points for Estancia.

Tustin 61, Costa Mesa 36--Ann Jeffries and Nichole Lind led the Tillers with 16 and 12 points, respectively. Tustin plays Saddleback at 3 p.m. in the tournament’s consolation championship. Stephanie Swanson had 12 points in a losing cause for Costa Mesa.

In nonleague action:

La Habra 54, El Dorado 52--Robin Seabrook scored a game-high 18 points to lead the Highlanders past the Golden Hawks in Placentia.

La Mirada 64 Sunny Hills 54--La Mirada’s Gail Brown had 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Matadors to a nonleague win at Sunny Hills. Audra Jesolva added 14 points, while Sharon Wada had 11 points, 6 steals and 5 assists. Trisha Gibson led La Mirada with 12 rebounds. Sunny Hills actually led at halftime, 30-28.