Brea-Olinda Streaks Past Alemany Into Girls’ 3-AA Final

At Brea-Olinda High, where the girls’ basketball team counts its winning streak in the 50s these days, the question isn’t whether the Lady Cats will win but by how much.

Brea-Olinda, the top seeded-team in the Southern Section 3-AA Division playoffs, has yet to face a tough challenge in the postseason. And Saturday night was no exception.

Brea-Olinda’s victim this time was Alemany, winner of its previous 12 games. But when it was over, the Lady Cats were the ones with their winning streak--now at 51 games--still intact after a 72-43 victory at Esperanza High.

In doing so, Brea-Olinda, the 1989 3-A and state champion, advanced to the final, where it will meet Palos Verdes, a 62-48 winner over Estancia.

“We’re happy to be going back (to the title game),” Brea Coach Mark Trakh said. “We’re real happy.”

You’d be happy, too, if your team was 29-0. The Lady Cats won their last 22 games last season, giving them the second-longest winning streak in Southern Section history.

Riverside Poly holds the record with 84 consecutive wins.

Aimee McDaniel scored 22 points to lead the way Saturday. Jody Anton chipped in with 13 points and Allison Bickel had 13 points and eight rebounds.

But it was Bickel who had Trakh raving after the game.

“Allison had the game of her life,” Trakh said. “She did a super job. She hit the boards and had a great game defensively.”

Brea-Olinda’s defense forced 18 turnovers and held Alemany to 12-of-44 shooting.

Meanwhile, the Lady Cats relied on McDaniel’s outside shooting (two three-point baskets) and driving layups and the inside play of Bickel and Anton.

“We just kept pounding the ball inside,” Trakh said.

And in the first half, the Lady Cats were often pounded when they went inside.

The second quarter turned out to be a free-throw shooting contest. Brea-Olinda made 10 of 15 free throws in the quarter while Alemany made seven of 11.

The only basket scored in the final 3 minutes 27 seconds of the first half was Bickel’s layup at the buzzer.

The Lady Cats led, 40-22, at halftime and by as many as 32 in the second half.

Guard Rachel Coretti scored 22 points for Alemany (20-7).