HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GIRLS’ STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS : Brea-Olinda and Palos Verdes Win Titles

Brea-Olinda girls’ basketball Coach Mark Trakh was not going to repeat a mistake he made last year when his team lost to Auburn Placer in the State Division III championship game.

Trakh scouted his opponent well this year, and the extra effort paid off as Brea-Olinda defeated Hayward Moreau, 54-46, for the State Division II title Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

“I sent one of my assistant up last week to watch Moreau in the Northern Regional tournament,” Trakh said. “Last year, we underestimated Placer and it really cost us. I wasn’t going to let that happen this time.”

Brea-Olinda (33-1) obviously did its homework. The Ladycats jumped to a 9-2 lead and, keeping the ball inside, dominated a less-physical Moreau team.

Led by 5-foot-9 center Jinelle Williams and 5-11 forward Jody Anton, Brea-Olinda never trailed. Anton finished with a game-high 22 points and 13 rebounds, and Williams added 16 points and 11 rebounds.

“I think we felt a lot less pressure this year than we did last year,” said Williams, who will play basketball at UC Irvine next season. “Everybody expected us to win against Placer, but this time we just wanted to go out and have fun.”