STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : Division I Girls’ Semifinal : Edison Has Extra Power to Win

A gap in a gimmick defense and two energy sources by the names of Michelle Hennessey and Denise Ogburn helped lead Edison High School to a 46-42 victory over Mission Viejo Thursday night in the semifinals of the Division I Southern California Regionals for girls’ basketball at Huntington Beach High.

Mission Viejo put special effort into stopping Edison’s 6-foot 1-inch center, Kristi Smith, who averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds this season. The Diablos (29-3) played a four-man zone with one player, Suzy Powers, assigned to follow Smith everywhere. She did.

“She was my shadow,” Smith said. “I couldn’t shake her.”

With Powers, a 5-9 forward, in pursuit, Smith scored just three points through the first three quarters. So the gadget defense worked against Smith, but it opened the middle for Stacee Johnson, a 5-9 junior forward. Johnson scored a game-high 19 points and had 7 rebounds.

It was Johnson who kept Edison close early, scoring seven points in the first quarter as Mission Viejo took a 17-11 lead. Mission Viejo guard Tricia Stringam, who ended with 13 points, had 7 in the first quarter.

Edison closed to within two points, 24-22, by halftime. In the third quarter, Johnson scored 10 of Edison’s 11 third-quarter points and helped the Chargers to a 33-32 lead by the quarter’s end.

“Any gimmick defense is going to have its weak spot,” said John Hattrup, Mission Viejo coach. “Johnson found it today . . . I was happy with the way the defense worked. I thought we kept Smith out of their offense, but if you’re going to adjust to stop one person, you’re usually going to have to give somewhere else.”

Edison, the Southern Section 4-A champion, will play Point Loma, San Diego Section 4-A champion, in the regional final, Saturday night at 6:15 in the Sports Arena. Point Loma, three-time defending state champion, defeated Kennedy, 56-50, Thursday night.

Edison guards Hennessey and Ogburn seemed to sprint the entire game. The pair scored some points--Hennessey (5-3) had six, Ogburn (5-5) eight, but their value was relentless defensive pressure.

Playing what amounted to a two-player full-court press, the pair produced nine steals, and were the main reason Mission Viejo had 19 turnovers. They were particularly tough when Mission Viejo attempted to inbound the ball. They had five steals from inbound passes.

“I think you look at Stacee’s game, and what Michelle and Denise did on defense and that’s the game,” White said.

Hennessey seemed attached to Mission Viejo point guard Christie Wile, producing a shaky game from Wile, who this season set a Southern Section single-season assists record.

Smith did come on strong in the fourth quarter, scoring eight points, six on free throws. She ended with 11 points and 10 rebounds. With Smith leading the way, Edison built a 39-34 midway through the quarter and held on to win.

“You’re going to have a tough time stopping someone as good as Kristi for an entire game,” said Dave White, Edison coach. “I thought she took over in the fourth quarter.”

Wile scored 12 points and Powers added 9 for Mission Viejo, Southern Section 3-A champion.