ORANGE LEAGUE GIRLS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Brea-Olinda Keeps Streak Alive With Victory Over Valencia

Valencia High School got closer than Brea-Olinda’s four previous Orange League opponents, but the Ladycats prevailed, 80-55, extending their school record victory streak to 42 games.

The victory gives Brea-Olinda the second-longest streak in Southern Section girls’ basketball. Brea-Olinda moved past Gahr, now third with 41 in a row.

Riverside Poly, led by former Olympian and USC standout Cheryl Miller, holds the record of 84 consecutive victories.

Brea-Olinda (20-0, 5-0), the state’s top team and fifth-ranked nationally by USA Today, moves into sole possession of first place in the Orange League. Valencia (9-9, 4-1) is alone in second.

Against a taller team, Valencia gave a good accounting of itself. The Tigers led, 25-20, after one quarter, thanks to senior forward Holly Keeton, who had 11 first-quarter points mostly on follow shots from offensive rebounds. She had seven in the first half.

“I have to give them credit, they came out and kicked our butts,” Brea-Olinda Coach Mark Trakh said. “Keeton took on our whole front line. She said I don’t care what your ranking is.”

But Keeton, a left-hander who finished with 20 points, picked up her third foul and left the game less than an minute into the second quarter. Center Heather Kidd left the game on the same play with an injury, putting much of Valencia’s rebounding power on the bench. With two, and as many as three reserves on the floor for Valencia, Brea-Olinda made its run, outscoring the Tigers, 19-9, for a 34-29 halftime lead.

Keeton picked up her fourth foul early in the third quarter, but she remained in the game and was less aggressive on the boards. In the third quarter, Brea’s Jinelle Williams took over inside, hitting all five of her shots. Brea-Olinda, which shot only 38% to Valencia’s 30% in the first half, improved in the second half, shooting 52% from the field and outscoring Valencia, 22-14, for a 56-43 third-quarter lead.

Valencia Coach Kim Beckhart said the key was her team’s lack of offensive rebounds in the second half and foul trouble, but she was still pleased with her players’ performance.

“We always have this problem with third-quarter blues,” Beckhart said. “Holly picked up her fourth foul early and that really took us right out of our momentum.

“I told the kids, ‘Don’t play afraid,’ and they didn’t. We got after them. . . . Hey, that’s the fifth-ranked team in the nation and we lost by 25. That’s good.”

Brea-Olinda’s four previous league opponents have lost by an average of 65 points. The closest any other league opponent had come was Savanna, which lost by 39 points, 78-39.

In other South Coast League games:

Magnolia 52, Anaheim 38--Joyce Pea had 19 points and 11 rebounds and Yolanda Hearvey had 10 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots for host Magnolia (3-12, 1-4).

Savanna 59, Western 42--Carrie Frederick had 23 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for host Savanna (12-7, 3-2).