SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : II-AA Girls : Tustin vs. Cerritos Gahr, 1 p.m.

SITE--Bren Center

RECORDS--Tustin (21-7), Cerritos Gahr (24-4).

TUSTIN--Coach Rick Falk could barely stay awake Thursday, a day after the third-seeded Tillers defeated second-seeded Ventura, 50-45, in the semifinals Wednesday night. “I’m so tired,” Falk said. “I never got to sleep last night.” Falk, however, is willing to miss a few more Z’s if Tustin can pull off an upset of the top-seeded Gladiators in the finals this afternoon. A Tustin victory would be the school’s first Southern Section championship in girls’ basketball. But to make that happen, the Tillers must keep Gahr’s leading scorer, 6-foot-2 center Allison Arredondo, under control. She averages 16 points and 10 rebounds, but Falk said he’s actually more concerned with guard Kris Waldorf. “Arredondo doesn’t scare me as much as Waldorf,” Falk said. “I think our size matches up with Arredondo.” Senior forwards Shari Needham, who scored 28 points against Ventura, and Christine Garner lead the Tillers.

GAHR--The Gladiators have polished off Tustin the last two times the teams met, in the 1989 and 1990 Brea-Olinda tournaments, so they must feel confident about their chances against the Tillers today. But Garner didn’t play in the second game, and this Tustin team is the best in the school’s history. Gahr, which lost to Ventura in the semifinals last season, features a fast-breaking offense sparked by guards Waldorf (10 points, five assists) and Michelle Barisdale (eight points, three assists). Arredondo, of course, is the team’s catalyst. But the Gladiators will have to do without 6-0 forward Cindy Alen, who started most of the season but quit for personal reasons two weeks ago.

KEY TO THE GAME--Gahr must somehow deal with the Tustin height advantage on the front line (three six-footers), and Tustin has to slow the Gladiators’ running game.

CONSENSUS--Speed over muscle. Gahr in a close one.

Starting Lineups

TUSTIN

P Name Ht. Avg. F Christine Garner 6-0 17.8 F Shari Needham 6-0 18.7 F Sylvia Salapski 6-0 3.0 G Kristin Kirkwood 5-5 3.0 G Sara Davis 5-5 7.0

Coach: Rick Falk

CERRITOS GAHR

P Name Ht. Avg. F Shannon Gale 5-9 8.0 F Michelle Wineke 5-10 9.0 C Allison Arredondo 6-2 16.0 G Michelle Barisdale 5-7 8.0 G Kris Waldorf 5-5 10.0

Coach: Tom Pryor