Preps SOUTHERN SECTION 4-A GIRLS : Westlake Advances as Stevens Shines, 39-37

Michelle Stevens is the latest proof that the better players shine in clutch situations.

The 5-9 senior guard for Westlake High scored two key baskets with a little more than two minutes left in the game to put the Warriors up for good and give them a 39-37 4-A win Wednesday over Fountain Valley High at Westlake. Stevens finished with 29 points.

“Do you know how mad everyone’s going to be about this?” said Stevens, who played the game with a bandaged left hand.

As it happened, no one was mad. In fact, her coach was delighted.

“We needed that kind of a performance from her,” said Westlake Coach Nancy Bowman. “She’s been the key all season. There’s no doubt about that.”

Fountain Valley took a 16-15 lead with 2:26 left in the first half and held it until late in the fourth quarter. The Barons got careless and turned the ball over three times in less than a minute.

However, Westlake could not capitalize on any of the mistakes until Stevens was fouled while driving the lane with 2:26 left to play. She missed both free throws but quickly got the ball back.

The game was a seesaw battle from the very beginning. The biggest lead any team had in the first half came early in the second quarter, when Stevens made a layup off an offensive rebound to put Westlake up, 12-6.

For most of the game it appeared that Fountain Valley would win it at the free-throw line. Going into the final quarter, the Barons converted 9 of 14 attempts, while Westlake hit only 1 of 10.

But all that changed late in the fourth quarter when Stevens converted a three-point play to put Westlake up by four.

Westlake controlled the boards the entire night, out-rebounding the Barons, 43-26. Amy Fuller had nine rebounds, while Stevens had six to lead the way.