SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : Girls’ Roundup : Foothill’s Move Up Stopped Short by Compton

Shelia Adams, Foothill High School coach, found out exactly how tough it would be to move up a division Wednesday night as her girls’ basketball team was beaten by Compton, 61-50, in a second-round Southern Section 4-A girls’ basketball playoff game at Foothill.

The Knights (22-4), who have played in the 3-A final the past three seasons--winning the championship in 1985--moved up a division when the Century League switched to 4-A this season.

“We really didn’t want to move up but there’s nothing I can do about it,” Adams said. “I’m proud of this team and couldn’t ask them to play any better than they did tonight.”

Compton, Moore League champion, had all it could handle in the first half thanks to Foothill center Sue Davis, who finished with a team-high 23 points and 15 rebounds.

But Davis picked up her third foul and had to be replaced midway through the second quarter. That’s when Compton outscored Foothill, 12-1, to take a 28-21 halftime lead.

The Tarbabes (25-2) built a nine-point lead, 32-23, early in the third quarter, only to have Foothill score 10 straight points. Guard Robin Welch connected on a 12-foot baseline jumper with just over three minutes left in the quarter to put the Knights ahead, 33-32.

That was Foothill’s last lead as Compton outscored the Knights, 23-15, in the final quarter.

The Tarbabes got double figures in scoring from their two All-Southern Section performers. Guard Sharon Hargrove had 24 points and forward Mandy Hannah added 22.

“We knew Foothill would be good,” Compton Coach Carolyn Montgomery said. “We won the game with our outside shooting in the final quarter.”

In other 4-A action:

Edison 70, St. Joseph 47--Stacee Johnson and Kristi Smith each scored 24 points as fourth-seeded Edison (27-1) won at St. Joseph. Johnson added 16 rebounds, and Dawn Ogburn had 8 assists and Krisden Tanabe 7. Lisa Fernandez led St. Joseph with 17 points.

Mater Dei 53, Marina 46--Marina, which trailed by 10 points after three quarters, cut the lead to four in the fourth but could get no closer as Mater Dei won at Marina. Debbie Wagner scored 16 points and Geri Gainey added 14 to lead the Monarchs (22-6). Dawn Charroin scored 14 points and Liberty Brewster 12 for the Vikings (16-11), who committed 21 turnovers.

Simi Valley 66, Huntington Beach 50--Paul Cooper scored 22 points and Julie Arlotto added 17 as the Pioneers won a second-round game at Huntington Beach. The Oilers (13-12) were led by Stefanie Pemper’s 14 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Tami Chick, who scored 27 points in Huntington Beach’s first-round victory, was held to nine points by Simi Valley (22-3).

In 3-A action:

Katella 64, El Toro 52--Serenda Valdez scored 21 points and Kelli Johnson added 17 to lead the Knights to the victory at El Toro High School.

Katella (25-2) also got 12 points from Julie Stanring and 10 rebounds from Joni Easterly. Elaine Youngs had 22 points to lead El Toro. Laurie Halliday added 10 points.

Mission Viejo 58, Los Alamitos 42--Tricia Stringham scored 20 points to lead the Diablos (25-2) to a victory at Los Alamitos. Kelli Moore led the Griffins (17-7) with 15.

In 2-A action:

Brea-Olinda 64, Riverside Poly 57--Brea led by 15 after three quarters, and Poly only made it close playing against the Wildcat reserves. Kristin McPhee scored 22 to lead the Wildcats and Susan Tousey added 14 as Brea (22-4) won at Poly.

La Quinta 66, Artesia 32--Freshman Amy Jalewalia had 22 points and 16 rebounds as the Aztecs (19-5) took a 12-point first-quarter lead and cruised to a victory at Artesia. Cindi Kollar added 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Fullerton 50, Orange 47--Vicki Silva scored 17 points and Heidi Shikuma added 13 as the Warriors (17-6) came back from a nine-point halftime deficit to win at Orange. Suzette Sargeant led Orange with 18 points and Alicia East added 13.

Woodbridge 49, Arroyo Grande 32--Billie Powell scored 14 points to lead the Warriors to the victory over Arroyo Grande at Arroyo Grande High School.

Monrovia 53, La Habra 49--Monrovia (20-7) eliminated the Highlanders (19-8) in a game at Monrovia.