HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GIRLS’ SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : Thousand Oaks Overwhelms El Toro, 63-44

Taking advantage of its superiority in size and quickness, the Thousand Oaks High girls’ basketball team defeated host El Toro, 63-44, in a Southern Section I-A Division quarterfinal game Saturday night.

The victory advances the Lady Lancers (26-3) into a semifinal game Wednesday against Cerritos.

Michelle Palmisano, held to one basket in the opening period, came alive in the second quarter, scoring nine points to help Thousand Oaks to a 32-23 halftime edge. She finished with a game-high 23 points and had nine rebounds.

El Toro cut the lead to 49-42 with 6 minutes 15 seconds remaining, but after the teams exchanged baskets, Thousand Oaks scored the last 12 points of the game, seven of them by Palmisano.

Buena 69, Capistrano Valley 31--Jennifer Wells had a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead host Buena (24-2) in a I-A quarterfinal game.

Lynwood 63, Channel Islands 48--Sal Tauau scored 17 points and Candis Carper added 16 for host Channel Islands (24-5) in a I-AA game.

Gahr 63, Westlake 46--Kris Waldorf scored 17 points hit four of five three-point shots to lead second-seeded Gahr (26-2) in a II-AA game at Gahr. Lauren Goldstine (16 points) and Dani O’Byrne (13) led Westlake (20-7).

Ventura 63, Arlington 42--Denise Rea scored a game-high 18 points for Ventura (22-3) in a II-AA quarterfinal game.

Chaminade 63, Pius X 50--Jane Kim had 21 points and 18 rebounds for Chaminade (17-9), which had a school-record 66 rebounds and advanced to the semifinals of the IV-A Division for the first time.

Maria Costa had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Chaminade.

Morro Bay 54, Santa Clara 15--No player scored more than three points for Santa Clara in a IV-AA game at Morro Bay.

Riverside Notre Dame 57, L.A. Baptist 54--Visiting L.A. Baptist (14-6) trailed by 10 points at halftime in a IV-A game and rallied to tie after three periods before falling.