SOUTHERN SECTION GIRLS 5-A : Hart Shows a Lot of Heart, Upsets Buena, 49-45

Hart High of Newhall overcame lots of obstacles Friday night at UC Irvine--a stifling full-court press, a seven-point third-quarter deficit, a previously unbeaten and top-seeded opponent and the odds of repeating as Southern Section 5-A Division girls’ basketball champion.

All of which made the underdog Indians’ 49-45 victory over Buena of Ventura more impressive, especially because the Bulldogs, who entered the game 26-0, had defeated Hart, 48-30, in December.

Hart won even though its big weapons, 6-foot-3 senior center Sara Wilson and 5-8 sophomore point guard Anjanette Dionne, had off nights. Wilson, stymied by a double-team defense, scored only eight points and had nine rebounds. Dionne, who averages 23 points, was held to 12.

Junior forward Carol Gruhlke tied Dionne for team-high honors with a career-high 12 points, including six in the fourth quarter when Hart (25-4) outscored the Bulldogs, 15-6.