SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : Louisville Can’t Stop Foothill : Fleischaker, McFerson Lead Knights, 63-53, Into 3-A Championships

Forward Stephanie Fleischaker scored 19 points and center Chris McFerson added 13 points and 16 rebounds Tuesday night to lead Foothill High past Louisville, 63-53, in a Southern Section 3-A girls semifinal basketball game at Tustin High.

Foothill (28-1) advances to the championship game Friday at Cal Poly Pomona against Brea-Olinda. Louisville finished 25-5.

In extending its winning streak to 27 games, Foothill used one of its best defensive efforts of the season. Forward Becky Sullivan, who finished the game with 11 points and 9 rebounds, set the tempo early, swatting away four first-quarter passes intended for Louisville center Andrea Knapp.

Knapp, a 6-3 junior, led all scorers with 27 points, but she was ineffective early under the basket as Foothill used a collapsing 2-3 zone. She made 5 of 13 shots in the first half when Foothill built a 26-21 lead.

Knapp left the game after getting her fourth foul with 1:55 left in the third quarter. In her absence Foothill outrebounded Louisville, 11-2, and when she returned with 47 seconds gone in the final quarter, the Knights had a 40-33 lead.

Foothill clinched the win with 6:30 left by making 12 of 14 free-throw attempts.

In 1-A action:

Santa Clara 52, Connelly 43--Kathy Torres scored 20 points and had 16 rebounds to lead the Saints to an upset of Koalas at Rio Mesa Tuesday night.

Amy Vernatti scored 15 points to led Connelly (23-1). Vernatti fouled out in the fourth quarter.

Santa Clara outscored Connelly, 28-19, in the second half after the teams were tied at halftime, 24-24.

Kim Weich added 16 points and Cindy Fenske had 12 rebounds for the Saints (23-4), who advance to Friday’s final against Atascadero at Gahr High School.