Leslie’s Last Home Game Is Easy Morningside Win

In Lisa Leslie’s final home game at Morningside High School on Thursday night, the Monarchs were afforded the surprising luxury of an easy win as they beat visiting San Diego Mt. Carmel, 78-42, in the semifinals of the Southern California Regional girls basketball tournament.

Morningside (30-3), which was led by Leslie’s 22 points and sophomore Janet Davis’ 19, will play Friday at 6:30 p.m. at the Sports Arena for the championship and the right to defend its state Division I title in Oakland next week.

“We were able to rest some people, especially Lisa and Janet,” Coach Frank Scott said, “which is nice with another game coming up so soon.”

The Sundevils (23-6), who advanced to the semifinals with an upset at Hart on Tuesday night, were led junior forward Vicki deJesus’ 18 points. Mt. Carmel never led and was unable to get within 10 points of Morningside from early in the second quarter.

Leslie, who made seven of 20 field-goal attempts, had 12 rebounds and eight blocked shots. “My shot was wasn’t falling like it normally would,” she said, “but I was glad to see Janet and my other teammates get into the offense. That’s important.”

Scott said the 6-foot-4 Davis played one of her best games of recent weeks.

“We’ve been talking to her all week,” he said. “We need her to take charge more.

“We know she can’t be like Lisa--yet. Next year, it’s Janet.”

Junior guard Princess Murray hit her fourth three-point basket of the fourth quarter with two seconds left in the game, and her euphoric Morningside teammates mobbed her.

But there was a more somber tone earlier in the day as starting junior guard Bridget Williams suffered torn ligaments in her lower leg in an accident at home. She is in a cast and is lost for the season.

Junior Tyesha Whiting, starting in her place, scored six points, while fellow junior guard Melinda Cook had 11 points off the bench.

Murray had 12 points, and Scott said her outside shooting could be important in what he hopes will be two more games.

“She was definitely focused tonight,” said Scott, whose Monarchs are ranked No. 1 in the state in Cal-Hi Sports Weekly’s Division I ratings. “If she can shoot like that at the Sports Arena, it could make a difference.”

About the significance of her last home game, Leslie said: “We wanted to go out with a positive note. And we did.”