Community College Basketball Playoffs : Golden West Women Upset by American River, 76-70

The reasons for American River College’s 76-70 upset of Golden West in a womens’ state basketball semifinal at Cypress College were simple.

American River outrebounded the Rustlers, 51-39. Golden West had 21 turnovers; the Beavers had 14. Golden West shot 36% (26-72) and American River shot 44% (31-71).

The loss snapped a 17-game winning streak for Golden West, the South Coast Conference champion.

American River will play College of the Sequoias (34-0) in the title game tonight at 7:30 at Cypress. Sequoias defeated Merritt, 45-36.

Golden West led, 38-37, at the half but forwards Stacy Barnes and April Marion were in foul trouble with two each. Neither played the final seven minutes of the first half.

They both picked up a third foul early in the second half and stayed in the game, but were much less aggressive.

That opened the middle for Lollie Shipp, American River’s center. She had a season- and game-high 24 rebounds, 12 in each half and 13 on the offensive end.

About the only thing Shipp didn’t do well was shoot. She was 3 of 10 from the field and 6 of 12 from the free-throw line and finished with 12 points.

“They (Marion and Barnes) got in foul trouble and had to play soft in the middle,” said Dick Stricklin, Golden West coach. “Boards were the key though, we just didn’t get enough and we must have missed at least 15 two-footers.”

Marion picked up her third foul with 12:58 left as Shipp scored over her to give American River a 58-48 lead. The Rustlers (33-2) were never able to cut the lead to fewer than eight after that.

American River offered Golden West plenty of chances to get back into the game in the final five miuntes. The Beavers missed the front end of five one-and-one oppertunities and made two of their last nine free throws. American River made 14 of 29 free throws in the game.

“I can’t believe it, this is the best win ever for us,” said Tami Yasuda, American River coach. “We pretty much controlled the tempo like I though we could.”

Lalita Stokes scored 18 points and Jennifer Reese 17 for American River (24-9).

Jeaninne Battaglia scored 17, Marion 15 and Jane Utu 14 for the Rustlers.

In the other semifinal:

College of the Sequoias 45, Merritt 36--The Giants (34-0), the state’s top-ranked team, scored their season low in points but still advanced.

Sophomore Stacy Brown, averaging 22 points this season, scored only four for Sequoias, which led at halftime, 18-16.

The Giants went on a 10-2 run to start the second half and outscored Merritt, 27-20, in the second half.

Debbie Elrod (13 points) and Darlene Smith (11) were the only Giants in double figures.

Merritt (24-9) shot 30% (15-50) from the field and had 22 turnovers. Audrey Moore scored a game-high 14 points for Merritt.