SAN DIEGO SECTION BASKETBALL : 2-A Girls : San Pasqual Hopes to Avenge Loss to La Jolla

In the opening game of the La Jolla High School girls’ basketball season, the Vikings defeated San Pasqual, 43-36.

It was San Pasqual’s third game.

In the closing game of the San Diego Section 2-A girls’ season, the teams will meet again, this time for a division championship.

La Jolla (17-5) will play San Pasqual (20-5) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the San Diego Sports Arena for the right to continue play in the Southern California Regionals of the state tournament.

La Jolla, the City Western League champion, is led by league player of the year Nicole Anderson, a 5-foot 3-inch sophomore. She is one of the county’s top scorers with a 21.9 average. She handles the ball, runs the offense and directs the defense.

San Pasqual, the Avocado League champion, is one of the county’s top defensive teams and relies on a 1-3-1 zone defense.

“I’ve never had a team play the 1-3-1 defense better than these girls,” said Brad Merrill, San Pasqual coach.

San Pasqual has had only three teams score more than 50 points against it, and has held 14 opponents to fewer than 40 points.

San Pasqual, like La Jolla, uses only five players. However, all of San Pasqual’s players are underclassmen. Only 5-9 center Cari Young is taller than 5-7. That could cause a problem against La Jolla’s taller Vera Littleton (6-0) and Michelle Lolly (5-11).

Forward Nicole Rothey leads San Pasqual in scoring (18.4 average) and rebounding (8.0) and guard Julia Doria--the league player of the year--leads the team in assists, steals and blocked shots.

“The intensity is going to make a big difference,” Merrill said. “It’s the difference between playing a nonleague game and playing for a championship.”