HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : Division V Boys : No. 3 Worth Title to Country Day : Torres in Control Again for Third Win Over Lutheran

La Jolla Country Day School controlled Lutheran from start to finish--through the year and on Saturday--to win the San Diego Section Division V girls’ basketball championship.

Junior Robin Chatham scored 12 points to lead the Torres to a convincing 48-32 victory at Serra High School. It was Country Day’s third victory over Lutheran this season.

It is also the Torres’ second title in four years. They will advance to the Southern Division playoffs next week with a 20-4 record. Lutheran (19-7) might receive an at-large berth.

Country Day wasted little time putting Lutheran away. The Torres went on top by 12 points, 22-10, at halftime, mainly because of a 10-2 run in the final two minutes of the second quarter. Jocelyn Belice and Isabel Schoepflin triggered the burst with four points each.

As he did in a semifinal victory over Bishop’s, Coach Jack Wigley of Country Day went to a full-court press to start the second half.

The pressure defense resulted in four immediate turnovers and four points for the Torres. They continued to force the pace and led by 14, 32-18, after three quarters.

“We felt they (Lutheran) have two fine players, but other than that they aren’t very skillful,” Wigley said. “I thought if we could put the pressure on, we would be successful.”

Country Day expanded its lead to 16 points midway through the fourth quarter but then Lutheran made a brief rally.

The Knights pulled to within 11 points, 38-27, with 2:30 remaining on baskets by Kim Hieb and Casey Lawyer.

Country Day responded to the threat with six unanswered points to make it 44-27 and put the game away.

Belice finished with 10 points and Schoepflin, just a freshman, added 9 for Country Day. Seniors Janell Neal with 11 and Hanne Norby with 7 were the leading scorers for Lutheran.