SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL PREP BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES : Girls’ Division II and III : Mary Maloney Gives Palos Verdes a Lift, 44-37

Should Mary Maloney, designated catalyst, be starting? Despite scoring 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting and sparking Palos Verdes High School to a 44-37 win over Escondido San Pasqual in the Division II girls’ Southern Regional final Saturday at the Sports Arena, Maloney wasn’t too sure.

Then, considering how things have been going recently for Maloney and the Sea Kings, she said coming off the bench will do just fine.

“No . . . Yes, I’d like to start,” said Maloney, who has scored 16 and 10 points coming off the bench in Palos Verdes’ last two games. She clouded the picture further by quickly adding, “I don’t know.”

Palos Verdes Coach Wendell Yoshida says he knows.

“Sometimes, players feel more comfortable watching the first few minutes of a game,” Yoshida said. “Maybe Mary is that kind of player--she plays better entering the game after it’s started.”

As far as the Sea Kings are concerned, Maloney could not have entered the game at a better time.

With 4:59 remaining in the second quarter, San Pasqual had taken a 17-15 lead, erasing a 9-0 deficit. Maloney then entered the game, hit two consecutive shots, and helped Palos Verdes to a 26-21 halftime lead it didn’t relinquish.

Palos Verdes (27-7) will face Grant of Sacramento (26-7) in the State Division II championship next Saturday in Oakland.

Heather Burge led Palos Verdes with 11 points. Guard Julie Doria led San Pasqual, the San Diego Section champion, with 13 points.

Lemoore 50, Ramona 35--The Central Section champion Tigers outscored San Diego champion Ramona, 13-3, in the third quarter en route to the Division III Southern Regional title at the Sports Arena.