SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : GIRLS 3-A : Costa Mesa Pulls Upset

It seemed as if nobody wanted to hang onto the ball in the Southern Section 3-A Division girls’ basketball championship game between Rancho Alamitos and Costa Mesa Wednesday night at Cal Poly Pomona.

Each team committed 25 turnovers, but the error-filled game was finally decided by freshman Olivia DiCamilli, who made four of five shots in the fourth quarter to help unseeded Costa Mesa to a 51-49 victory. It was the first basketball championship in the school’s 30-year history.

DiCamilli, who played the fourth quarter with four fouls, took control with the the Mustangs ahead, 41-39.

“I was just thinking I had to shake all my fouls off,” she said. “I was thinking we’re the better team. I shook off my attitude and I just tried as hard as I could and it worked.”

She made her first field goal 30 seconds into the quarter on a 16-foot jump shot. She added another 16-footer, then made a baseline drive for two more points to keep the Mustangs ahead, 47-45.

Rancho Alamitos tied the score, 47-47, with 2:30 left on Francis Inomata’s basket.

Michele Bryant made two free throws to put Costa Mesa ahead, 49-47. Then DiCamilli scored on a layup to give the Mustangs (17-11) a 51-47 lead with two minutes left.

Jenny Newsome scored on a layup to cut the lead to 51-49 with a minute remaining.

DiCamilli missed a shot, but Newsome picked up her fifth foul trying to grab the rebound.

DiCamilli missed the front end of the one-and-one, giving Rancho Alamitos (21-4) the ball with six seconds remaining. But Melinda Lira missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer.