CIF GIRLS ROUNDUP : Montgomery Scores Upset Over La Habra, 51-44

The knights upset the Highlanders, the division’s top-seeded team, in a girls 4-A CIF quarterfinal game at La Habra on Wednesday night, 51-44.

Bishop Montgomery will face the winner of the Los Altos-West Torrance game in the semifinals.

The Knights (17-9) first scented victory after a 15-2 spurt that gave them a 17-10 lead with 4:59 remaining in the first quarter.

Bishop Montgomery shot just 22% (seven for 31) from the field in the first half but still led at intermission, 21-20, taking advantage of 13 Highlander turnovers.

La Habra (21-4) held a decided height advantage over Bishop Montgomery but couldn’t get the ball inside to its 6-5 center, Zrinka Kristic, and two 6-1 forwards, Ana Kristic and Leslie Ferguson. The Knights’ tallest player was 6-0 Keisa Smith.

In the second half La Habra started well but still had trouble going inside against the Knights’ defense. Bishop Montgomery held off a fourth-quarter Highlander run that effectively ended when Ferguson, who had averaged 16.1 points a game, fouled out with 6:39 left.

The Knights clinched the victory with a 10-2 run in a 3 1/2-minute stretch midway through the fourth quarter. That gave them a 48-38 lead with 1:35 remaining.

Junior point guard Lily Cabaleiro led Bishop Montgomery with 25 points, including eight in the fourth quarter.

--DENNIS KAISER