The Preps : Freeway League : Girls’ Basketball Roundup : La Habra Wins Showdown for First Place by 25

The La Habra High School girls’ basketball team seems on the inside track to the Freeway League championship.

The Highlanders (16-4, 7-0) turned Thursday’s first-place showdown against Fullerton (12-7, 5-2) into a 59-34 rout, clinching at least a tie for the Freeway League championship.

La Habra dominated inside, led by Kris Kelley’s game-high 24 points.

“That was the best game of the year for Kris,” La Habra Coach John Koehler said. “She was all over the place.”

Kelley had 6 assists and 6 steals. In all, the Highlanders had 19 assists and 13 steals.

“They played us man-to-man. We like that because it allows the big girls to get into the game and allows us to get the lob pass in there,” Koehler said.

Freshman center Zrinka Kristich scored 10 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Her sister, Ana, scored 15 and had 12 rebounds.

For Fullerton, a team without a senior, the game was over midway through the first quarter as the Highlanders scored the first 13 points.

“When we get to La Habra, we get scared,” Fullerton Coach Vernie Ford said. “We had 35 turnovers. They taunt us and we give it to them.

“We’re a young team and sometimes we do dumb things. We’ll be back next year.”

The Indians managed only one field goal in the first quarter while being outscored, 21-7, including 11 points by Kelley.

La Habra kept the pressure on in the second quarter, building a 36-14 halftime lead.

The Highlanders opened the third quarter with a 12-2 run, before Fullerton came back with a 9-point run of its own, including a 3-point bank shot by Jenny Comstock at the buzzer from about 25 feet.

Late in the third quarter and through the fourth, Koehler rested some of his starters and coasted to the victory.

“Our shooting was on,” said Koehler, whose team shot 52% (26 of 50). “That’s the best Kris, Ana and Zrinka have played all year.

“We’re just getting ready for CIF. Even if we’re up by 30 points in the second quarter, I still have to play my starters about 60% to get ready for the playoffs.”

Sonora 41, Troy 38 (OT)--Guard Monica Polley scored with 25 seconds left in overtime for visiting Sonora (7-11, 4-4). Sonora added a free throw as time ran out for the final margin. Polley had 10 points in the game and her sister, Tahlia, added 11 for Sonora. Troy guard Linda Richards scored a 3-point basket at the buzzer in the fourth quarter to tie the score, 38-38, and send the game into overtime. Richards led all scorers with 16 points. The loss dropped Troy’s record in league play to 2-6.