SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL BASKETBALL FINALS : San Pasqual Hopes That Fun Will Continue With Success Against Taller Palos Verdes : Division II Girls

The Shot, prologue:

“My dad videotaped the game, and last night I watched it, over and over,” Nicole Rothey said. “I kept watching it, and I’d think, ‘Oh no.’ Even though I know I’m going to make it, even though I know the outcome, I was not sure.”

Said Julie Doria, whose drive and pass set up Rothey: “I dreamed of winning (a dramatic tournament game) last year. I couldn’t go to sleep last night.”

Rothey’s shot, an eight-footer with eight seconds left, banked off the glass, bounced on the rim and played with the heartstrings of all involved before falling in and giving San Pasqual a 39-37 victory over Fresno Sanger Thursday.

As a result, San Pasqual (27-2), which two games ago won its first San Diego Section crown, will play Southern Section titlist Palos Verdes (27-7) in the Southern California Regional Division II girls’ final today at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. The winner goes to Oakland for the state championship.

First back to Thursday’s game, played before a full house at San Pasqual, the same place that was at best half-full much of the season.

“We have very defined school loyalty areas here,” said Patrick V. Ross, who has been the principal at Escondido, Orange Glen and, the past two years, San Pasqual. “Last night, I think we saw a unified Escondido area. I’ve been here 30 years; I don’t think I’ve seen anything so electrifying.”

“I looked at the poor girl (from Sanger) at the free-throw line,” Doria said. “And all those people screaming and yelling.” She paused. “It was neat.”

Co-coach Brad Merrill said he hadn’t seen such enthusiasm since the years he coached at Orange Glen. (One of his teams there had Lori Becker, the other San Pasqual coach, as the center.)

“I’ll never forget last night,” both Rothey and Doria said. Doria, who has received a scholarship to the University of San Diego, allowed that she may never play in front of such a crowd again.

Meanwhile, she and her teammates reveled in the enthusiasm.

The faculty at San Pasqual bought the players lunch. The players fashioned bracelets out of the net they chopped down. Even the stoic Merrill shortened his health class to play a videotape of The Shot.

“I had friends call me in San Marcos and Oceanside, who said they’ll be with us (in Los Angeles),” Doria said.

Whether they’ll have a chance to be with them in Oakland could hinge on San Pasqual’s shooting today. The average-sized Eagles will get few layups against top-seeded Palos Verdes, which is led by Heather and Heidi Burge, twin 6-foot 4-inch juniors. Mary Maloney, a 6-footer, scored 16 points in Palos Verdes’ 63-48 semifinal victory over Los Altos Thursday.

Palos Verdes, slowed early by injuries, has won 18 consecutive games.

Another key for San Pasqual, as usual, should be Doria. Though a point guard, Doria, a 5-7 senior, leads the team in defensive rebounds. She is prone to take the rebound and beat everybody for layups, and if she gets the ball, she can go against less-than-quick Palos Verdes. But San Pasqual, the No. 2 seed, has seen few 6-footers this year, let alone those as tall as the Burges.

Though not surprised at their team’s success, Doria and Rothey said their background further accents Thursday’s victory.

“We don’t have good girls’ basketball programs in Escondido,” Doria said. “I just played pickup ball at recess. I think we’re generating enthusiasm.”