DIVISION II-A GIRLS’ BASKETBALL : Valencia Just Can’t Keep Up With La Habra

After trailing by one at the end of the first quarter, the Valencia girls’ basketball team couldn’t keep up and was beaten by La Habra, 43-25, in a Southern Section II-A quarterfinal Saturday at La Habra.

The Highlanders led, 10-9, at the end of the first quarter, and, 20-16, at the half. They went on a 15-5 run in the third quarter to take a 35-21 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Valencia’s defense was no match for La Habra’s Kristich sisters. Center Zrinka Kristich is 6-feet-5, and Ana, a forward, is 6-1. Forward Leslie Ferguson is 6-0. The three teamed for nine steals, two blocks and 24 rebounds.

Ferguson finished with a game-high 17 points; guard Jeanette Little led both teams with seven steals. Allison Granger had 13 points for Valencia.

“In the third quarter, it was zone defense; in the fourth, man-to-man,” Valencia Coach Nancy Amaroso said. “Both quarters, they killed us. There were things that we didn’t execute. We didn’t get going on offense.

“But there’s nothing to be ashamed of. We weren’t ranked coming in, weren’t even supposed to win (the second-round game Wednesday against Kennedy).”

“Our biggest constant was defense,” La Habra Coach John Koehler said. “This is the best defensive team I’ve ever had. We said, ‘We got to pin, we got to step to the ball and we got to get our timing right.’

“We told them, ‘If you get tired, if you blow, you better do it on offense.’

“This was a great win for us--we get to go to the semis. It takes a lot of luck from here on out.”