ROUNDUP : Brea’s Girls Cruise Past West Hills, 96-16

Only the malfunctioning of a 30-second shot clock stopped the Brea-Olinda girls’ basketball team from scoring during the first-round of the Southern California Division III regionals Tuesday at Brea-Olinda High.

Brea (29-2), the Southern Section Division III-AA champions and defending State Division III champions, scored the game’s first 10 points, led by 35 at halftime, and coasted to a 96-16 victory over Santee West Hills (8-17), the San Diego Section champion.

Brea plays host to the West Covina South Hills, a 70-54 winner over San Diego Our Lady of Peace, Thursday in the semifinals.

With Brea leading, 2-0, only 46 seconds into the game, the 30-second clock over the West Hills basket went blank. The game was halted for several minutes while Brea Coach Mark Trakh tried to repair it.

Though Trakh fixed the clock, it was never a factor as Brea caused 27 West Hills turnovers and forced the Wolfpack to shoot 16% (seven for 43) from the field.

Nicole Erickson led Brea with 23 points, nine assists and six steals, and teammate Jody Anton had 19 points and eight rebounds. Both players did all their damage in the first three quarters as Trakh emptied his bench for the fourth.

The reserves didn’t miss a beat, however, outscoring West Hills, 23-6.

“We stayed sharp and we kept focused,” Trakh said. “We shot poorly in the Southern Section finals at the Bren Center Saturday, but I think we got some kids back on the right track.”

Erickson, who missed all 13 of her shots from the field Saturday, made nine of 12 Tuesday, including five of five in the third quarter.

Brea outscored South Hills, 31-4, in the third quarter, making 14 of 17 shots from the field and forcing 11 turnovers.

Sarah Beckley added 12 points for the Ladycats. Erin Tarver led West Hills with eight points.

In Division II:

Carlsbad 60, Tustin 47--Tustin, the Southern Section Division II-AA runner-up, trailed by 23 points after three quarters. Christine Garner had 20 points and Shari Needham 17 for the Tillers, who finished 21-9. Carlsbad is 24-2 and faces Mission Hills Alemany in Thursday’s semifinals.