HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL FINALS : Division II Girls : One More Big Hurdle in San Pasqual’s Way

The San Pasqual girls’ basketball team is back in the Sports Arena, trying to take the last step through what has been a mine field of larger opponents and get to the Division II title.

San Pasqual lost the 2-A final to La Jolla last season. Because the San Diego Section has realigned schools into five divisions based on enrollment for this year’s playoffs, erstwhile 2-A schools such as San Pasqual have been uncomfortably matched against a number of 3-A opponents.

That’s the way it will be tonight when San Pasqual (25-2) meets 3-A Fallbrook (17-8) for the Division II title.

Teams belonging to 3-A leagues are 8-4 against 2-A teams in the Division II bracket this year. Three of the four semifinalists were 3-A teams. Only San Pasqual, the top seed, was able to break the trend.

“It’s a definite advantage playing tough competition week after week,” said Brad Merrill, San Pasqual’s coach. “We had some tough teams on our schedule, but not like (Fallbrook) was playing.”

Fallbrook finished tied for third with Poway in the Palomar League, trailing Vista and Mt. Carmel. Vista lost to Santana and Mt. Carmel upset top-seeded Point Loma in the Division I semifinals.

“It’s definitely an advantage for us to play these kinds of teams week in and week out,” said Gerry Port, Fallbrook’s coach.

San Pasqual and Fallbrook (17-8) have not played each other this season. The closest they came was in the Kiwanis Tournament, but both lost to eventual champion Calexico. San Pasqual’s only other loss was to Poway in its first game.

San Pasqual is not only from the smaller 2-A Avocado League, but its tallest player is only 5-feet 9-inches. It will try to use quickness and speed to overcome Fallbrook’s height advantage.

That edge is personified by 6-0 center Lisa Rienstra, who is averaging 15.2 points and 15.5 rebounds per game.

“We have to try and control the boards and put pressure on them before they start to run,” Port said.

San Pasqual will try to counter with senior Julie Doria (17.0 points per game) and sophomore Nicole Rothey (15.7). Doria (5-7) not only leads the team in scoring but also has 109 steals.

“We like to get the ball up and down the court,” Merrill said. “Hopefully we can offset (Fallbrook’s height) with quickness.”