COMMUNITY COLLEGE STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP : Golden West Edges L. A. Valley, Keeps Title

For the second consecutive year, the Golden West women’s basketball team went into opponents’ gym and won a state championship.

Last season, Golden West beat College of the Sequoias on its home floor for the title, and Saturday Golden West won the championship at Los Angeles Valley, beating the host Lady Monarchs, 77-75.

Golden West (35-1) stretched its winning streak to 27 and has won 72 of 74 games in two seasons.

Valley (32-5) lost in the championship game for the second time in three

Golden West led, 43-24, at halftime and by 23, seven minutes into the second half.

“Obviously, we got off to a great start and kind of hung on at the end,” Golden West Coach Dave Stricklin said. “All year, we’ve had a tendency to go in spurts.”

Valley’s Katina Mines hit two three-point baskets in a row to cut Golden West’s lead to 75-68 with just under four minutes to play. Tina Rush, whose game-high 34 points led Valley, made a three-point shot at 2:04 and a bank shot in traffic with 45 seconds left to draw the losers to, 75-73.

Allison Bickel, who came off the bench to lead Golden West with 20 points on nine of 13 shooting from the field, made two clutch free throws with 13 seconds remaining to give the Rustlers a four-point lead.

Valley’s Falicia Stanley scored a rebound basket with four seconds to play to draw Valley to within 77-75, but tournament most valuable player Bits Sirchia of Golden West ran out the clock on the inbounds play.

Jennifer Harney had 18 and Sirchia scored 15.