GIRLS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Santa Ana Valley Upsets Foothill’s Plan to Clinch Century League Title

SANTA ANA — The Foothill High School girls’ basketball team, with a chance to clinch the Century League championship, lost to Santa Ana Valley, 55-54, Tuesday night.

Santa Ana Valley (12-8, 7-2) is in second place in the standings. Foothill is 13-9, 8-1.

Santa Ana Valley hit three free throws in the final 46 seconds to decide the game, and give Santa Ana Valley its first victory over Foothill in four seasons.

Santa Ana Valley senior guard Rosie Secaira hit two free throws with 46 seconds remaining in the game to tie the score, 54-54. Foothill had taken the lead on a basket by junior forward Kara Koy with 1:15 remaining.

Senior center Brenda Robinson, made a free throw with 24 seconds remaining to give Santa Ana Valley the victory.

Santa Ana Valley used a 14-3 run during the second quarter to take a 28-21 lead. Senior forward Francesca Rumps hit a three-point basket with 6:28 remaining in the second quarter that started the run. Rumps, the Falcons’ leading scorer and rebounder (19.6 points and 12.5 rebounds), finished with 18 points and eight rebounds.

Foothill went on a 16-2 run in the fourth quarter to take a 52-47.

“I wasn’t happy about their run,” Santa Ana Valley Coach Beth Lovett said. “We were making mistakes on defense and allowing (Foothill) points they shouldn’t have gotten.”