GIRLS’ DIVISION III-AA BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : Ross, McLaren Take Time, Help Newport Harbor Win

After providing many rebounding opportunities for other players with their errant shots in the first half, Michaela Ross and Maureen McLaren found their range in the final two quarters to help Newport Harbor defeat Estancia, 52-31, in the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division III-AA girls’ basketball playoffs Saturday night at Newport Beach.

The Sailors (17-8), seeded fourth, face top-seeded Brea-Olinda in the semifinals Tuesday night at Sonora High.

Ross and McLaren, the two top offensive players for the Sailors, carried the load in the final 16 minutes after combining for three points in the first half--two by Ross on a 10-foot jumper in the first quarter and a free throw by McLaren in the second.

McLaren, a 6-foot senior center, scored nine of her game-high 13 points in the third quarter, and Ross scored five of her 11 in the same period, as Newport Harbor outscored the Eagles, 18-4, to take a 34-23 lead going into the fourth quarter.

With the score tied, 22-22, with 4 minutes 32 seconds to play in the third quarter, Newport Harbor went on a 10-0 run and was not threatened afterward.

Estancia (16-10) played the second quarter and most of the third without starting center Leah Braatz, who picked up three personal fouls in the first.

Braatz finished with a team-high 11 points, including seven in the last quarter, but she wasn’t much of a factor in the devastating third quarter.

Kristi Izumita scored 11 points for Newport Harbor, nine of them on three-pointers.

Estancia guard Monique Sweet, who was listed as questionable because of a sprained ankle suffered last Saturday against Compton Centennial, played for the Eagles and finished with 11 points.

In other Division III-AA games:

Brea-Olinda 70, Culver City 41--Jody Anton scored 20 points and Nicole Erickson added 18 for Brea-Olinda, which improved to 26-2.

Brea-Olinda trailed, 13-12, after one quarter but took a 28-19 halftime lead and pulled away steadily.

Culver City finished 16-10.

El Dorado 54, Santa Margarita 52--With 15 seconds left in the game, Jamie Sweet hit a jump shot that gave El Dorado (19-6) the victory over Santa Margarita (17-8). El Dorado held the Eagles to one field goal in the fourth quarter.

Jody Caruso led the Golden Hawks with 16 points, and Briana Yoshina had 15. Tara Moss led Santa Margarita with 18 points.