SOUTHERN SECTION GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : DIVISION III-AA : Lompoc Tops Estancia With Big Quarter

A third-quarter rally propelled Lompoc past Estancia, 65-55, in a Southern Section Division III-AA girls’ basketball semifinal at Cabrillo High School Wednesday.

Estancia, which finished the season at 25-2, jumped out to a 14-6 lead after one quarter but Lompoc started to warm up in the second quarter and pulled to within one point, 22-21, at halftime.

But Lompoc’s comeback had just started. Lompoc outscored Estancia, 29-14, in the third quarter to take a 50-36 lead and control of the game.

Lompoc did not change strategy at halftime. It just did a better job of what it does best--giving Nikki Manzo the ball.

“In the third quarter, they just came out and kept giving the ball to the big kid (Manzo),” Estancia Coach Lisa McNamee said. “She just kept putting it up and in.”

Manzo scored a game-high 32 points, with 14 of those coming in the third quarter. That matched the third-quarter output of the entire Estancia team.

Melody Earle scored 29 points and Patrice Lumpkin 12 for Estancia.

Estancia tried to come back and picked up the pace to outscore Lompoc, 19-15, in the fourth quarter. But by then it was too late.