SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES : 4-A Girls : Edison Beats Buena, 52-46, as Smith Scores 21

Huntington Beach Edison High School defeated Ventura Buena, 52-46, to win the school’s first-ever Southern Section 4-A girls’ basketball title Friday night before a crowd of 3,852 at Cal Poly Pomona.

Buena was denied in its bid to win a third 4-A title. The Bulldogs have made it to the championship game five times, a Southern Section record.

Edison Coach Dave White, who also is the school’s football coach, said this would be his final season so he could devote more time to the football team.

White isn’t through yet, though, since the Chargers advanced to the Southern California Regional playoffs next week.

The Chargers rallied with a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter to cap their second big comeback of the playoffs. Edison was down by 15 points against Compton in the quarterfinal round before rallying to win.

“We didn’t play a great game,” White said. “We did hang in there and that’s a sign of a good team. We kept things together until the fourth quarter and then we made our run.”

Friday, Edison (30-1) trailed, 40-36, with 6:02 left in the game, then behind Kristi Smith, a 6-foot 1-inch center, took a 45-40 lead.

Smith scored five of the Chargers’ points during that span. She had a game-high 21 points, making 8 of 14 shots, and also grabbed 12 rebounds.

Guard Denise Ogburn had 12 points for Edison.

The Bulldogs, who finished their season with a 26-2 record, were led by center Teresa Palmisano, who scored 18 points.

Palmisano scored six points in the third quarter as Buena took a 36-30 lead with 1:12 left in the period.

In the first half, each team opened up six points leads but the half ended with the scored tied at 24-24.

Mary Klemm, a senior guard, made an 18-foot jump shot to give Buena a 20-14 lead with 4:01 left in the second quarter and it appeared the Bulldogs had finally established some control.

The Chargers’ man-to-man defense left the Bulldogs puzzled and standing around on offense. Palmisano, who scores most of her points from the key area, was kept out on the perimeter, especially in the first quarter.

Still, Palmisano had 10 points by halftime.

Edison had its six-point advantage in the first quarter, but Buena went on a 6-0 run in 1:18 and pulled even with 4:08 left in the first quarter.

When Edison was trailing 20-14, White made an offensive adjustment, putting Smith out on the left wing baseline.

Smith made three straight baskets from the left side. Ogburn made two herself as the Chargers outscored Buena, 10-4, in the final four minutes of the half.