Girls’ Roundup : Handley Leads Fountain Valley Past Mater Dei in Semifinals

Junior forward Melissa Handley scored a career-high 24 points off the bench Friday night to lead the Fountain Valley High School girls basketball team past Mater Dei, 60-44, in the semifinals of the Marina-Edison Tournament at Edison High School.

The Barons outscored Mater Dei, 20-5, in the fourth quarter to earn the victory. Fountain Valley appeared to have a comfortable, 32-14 lead at halftime, but Geri Gainey led a Mater Dei rally in the third quarter that saw the Monarchs outscore the Barons, 16-0, during one stretch.

But Handley came on in the fourth period, scoring 12 of her points, as the Barons pulled away. Susan Walin added 12 points for Fountain Valley (10-1), which will play Foothill tonight at 8 in the tournament’s championship game.

Gainey led Mater Dei with 21 points. The Monarchs (10-4) play Franklin High of Seattle at 6:30 tonight in the third place game.

In other Marina-Edison Tournament action:

Foothill 51, Franklin (Seattle) 48--Guard Felice Geddy scored all of her 16 points in the second half, as the Knights outscored Franklin, 32-25. Shannon Smith, Franklin’s 6-foot, 4-inch center, scored a game-high 31 points.

Foothill’s 6-3 center, Chris McFerson, was charged with three fouls in the first five minutes and spent much of the game on the bench. Foothill (5-1) plays Fountain Valley in the tournament final tonight at 8.

Edison 47, Esperanza 41--Guard Denise Ogburn scored 16 points to lead the Chargers. Edison will play El Toro today at 5 p.m. for fifth place. Forward Sharon Warmus scored a game-high 21 points, including 13 of Esperanza’s 15 points in the fourth period.

El Toro 45, Marina 32--Center Karen Nickel had 15 points and Elaine Youngs added 10 points to lead the Chargers (6-2) to the win. Heather Kirkup led Marina (8-3) with 12 points.

Orange 57, Savanna 42--Center Suzette Sargeant 23 points and guard Debbie Kerr added 16 for Orange (5-5). The Panthers will play Los Alamitos in the consolation final today at 1:30. Savanna’s Venetta Dorlis and D.D. Shephard each scored 10 points. Savanna is 4-7.

Los Alamitos 36, Corona del Mar 30--Jennifer Ensley, a 6-foot 4-inch sophomore, scored 12 points to lead the Griffins into the consolation final. Los Alamitos (5-2) will play Orange today at 1:30. K.C. Jones scored 15 points for the Sea Kings (3-6).

Huntington Beach 45, Long Beach Wilson 31--Forward Tami Chick scored 15 points and guard Stefanie Pemper added 10 points to lead the Oilers to the win in the consolation third round. The Oilers (6-4) outscored the Bruins (0-9), 17-4, in the fourth quarter, as Chick scored 7 points.