Southern Section Girls’ Basketball : Santa Clara Gets Past Santa Ynez

Guard Tammy Atkins scored 14 points in the fourth quarter Wednesday night as Santa Clara High School defeated Santa Ynez, 43-34, to win the Southern Section Girls’ 2-A basketball championship at Lompoc High.

Santa Clara took control of a close game in the fourth quarter behind Atkins. But Santa Ynez also was hurt when center Jennie Kramer, who had 15 rebounds, fouled out.

The victory was Santa Clara’s third this season over its Frontier League rival.

Santa Clara (26-1) advances to the Southern California regionals next week. Santa Ynez (20-6) could also earn a berth.

St. Joseph 55, Morro Bay 45--St. Joseph, the Los Padres league champion, won the Southern Section 2-AA championship and a berth in the Southern California regionals.

St. Joseph, which had defeated Morro Bay three times in league play, was led by Anna McConnel and Dana Parsons with 12 points each. McConnel scored at the buzzer to give St. Joseph a 30-18 halftime lead.

Early in the third quarter, St. Joseph held a 14-point lead, but Morro Bay rallied behind Cheryl Rodenhi, who had 12 points. In the fourth quarter, Rodenhi was six for six at the free throw line as Morro Bay closed to within six points.

Pasadena Muir (23-3) and Anaheim Katella (25-3) will meet for the Southern Section Girls’ 4-AA Division basketball title as one-half of a doubleheader at 6:30 tonight, at Chapman College in Orange.

Placentia Valencia (19-9) and Anaheim Canyon (22-4) play for the 4-AA title in the second game scheduled to begin at 8:15.

Santa Barbara Bishop Diego (13-13) will face San Luis Obispo Mission College Prep (20-3) at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo at 7:30 tonight in the Southern Section girls’ 1-A final.