COMMUNITY COLLEGE STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL : This Time, Golden West Reaches Final Game

Golden West College made up for a slow start in plenty of time to take a 74-59 victory over Cerritos in the semifinals of state tournament Friday night at College of the Sequoias.

Golden West scored only 10 points in the first 10 minutes, but point guard Bits Sirchia broke free for 12 points in the next 10 to spark the Rustlers.

Sirchia and Claudette Jackson led Golden West with 18 points each.

Golden West (36-1) will play College of the Sequoias at 7 tonight for the state championship.

Golden West has made the state tournament the past four years, but this is the first time the Rustlers have reached the championship game.

“Bits Sirchia saved us in the first half,” Golden West Coach Dave Stricklin said. “Every time the ball went inside, they sagged off. . . . Once she hit those, they didn’t sag as much.”

Cerritos (26-7) slowed the game and built a 16-10 lead, but Golden West led, 34-25, at the half and padded the margin with a 16-2 run to start the second half.

Jackson grabbed 14 rebounds as did Donna Gondringer, who continued to struggle offensively with nine points.

Dawn Haag came off the bench to score eight consecutive points for Golden West. She finished with 10.

Cerritos’ Lisa Pounds made six three-point shots and scored 22.