GIRLS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : San Clemente Maintains Control in 57-51 Victory

San Clemente High School contained North Torrance’s high-scoring center in a 57-51 victory in the championship of the Costa Mesa girls’ basketball tournament Wednesday.

Laura Collins, a 6-foot-2 center who came into the game averaging 28 points, was held to 21 points and out of the flow of the game.

San Clemente (11-3) took a 12-7 first-quarter lead by forcing turnovers with its full-court press. Collins went to the bench with her second foul with about five minutes to play.

But in the second quarter Collins returned and San Clemente had foul trouble of its own. Guard Wendy Stewart, San Clemente’s second-leading scorer and floor leader, received her third foul with more than 6 1/2 minutes to play.

With Stewart out, San Clemente began taking low-percentage perimeter shots and North Torrance (9-2), on the strength of Collins’ 12 points, took its first lead of the game, 26-24, to end the half.

Collins dominated the offensive boards, scoring most of her points on follow shots. But she showed quickness and a soft touch with a turnaround jumper in the lane that tied the score, 22-22, with about a minute to play in the half.

But in the third quarter, San Clemente’s defense limited Collins to a single point.

“I told them at halftime it was going to be five against one,” San Clemente Coach Mary Mulligan said. “I didn’t care if every one of their girls scored 10 points because I didn’t feel just they could beat us.

“I had two girls blocking her out the whole second half and that was the difference in the ball game. She’s a great player.”

North Torrance was hurt by poor shooting from the field and the free-throw line. North Torrance missed nine of 11 free throws--four of them one-and-ones--in the first half and six of 12 in the second.

“We just couldn’t get the ball into (Collins),” North Torrance Coach Rich Rosato said. “Our guards weren’t hitting and when your guards don’t hit, it is tough to get it inside.”

San Clemente had nine players score. Kim McOwen led the Tritons with 13 points. Wendy Moon added 12 and four other players had six each.

Moon and Becky Mays were named to the all-tournament team along with Stewart, who was the tournament’s most valuable player.

Woodbridge 45, San Clemente 27--Center Deanna Harry scored 16 to lead Woodbridge to third place.

Capistrano Valley 29, Tustin 27--scored four of her game-high 10 points in the final quarter.

Trabuco Hills 48, Santa Ana 35--In the consolation championship, Shelley Calhoun scored 16 points for Trabuco Hills (5-6). Dee Dee Sampson added 10. Gracie Lopez led the Saints (7-5) with 20 points.

Schurr 37, Cypress 31--Suzanne Wong scored 13 and Debbie Kotani added 10 for Schurr. Stacie Kosaka led Cypress with 10 points.

In the Garden Grove League:

La Quinta 76, Pacifica 16--Amy Jalewalia had 34 points to lead La Quinta (10-2 overall, 1-0 in league play). Heather Brannan had 14 points and eight rebounds and Tanya Krill had 10 points and nine rebounds for La Quinta.

Garden Grove 41, Santiago 35--Chris Bazzel scored 16 points for visiting Garden Grove. Becky Elcock scored 14 for Santiago.

Los Amigos 37, Bolsa Grande 29--May Ly scored 15 for host Los Amigos (6-4, 1-0). Carrie Elsaesser scored 10 for Los Amigos.

Rancho Alamitos 78, Kennedy 76 (OT)--The teams were called for a combined 60 fouls, 31 on Rancho Alamitos and 29 on Kennedy. Rancho Alamitos (7-1, 1-0) made 24 of 43 free throws and Kennedy (4-7, 0-1) was 19 of 31.

In the Olympic League:

Santa Margarita 59, Orange Lutheran 35--Kristen Mulligan had 29 points and seven assists to lead host Santa Margarita (5-4, 1-0). Orange Lutheran is 1-5, 0-1.

In a nonleague game:

University 70, Irvine 19--Denise Gandara scored 27 points and had 13 rebounds for host University (8-3).