PREP BASKETBALL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES : Beckley’s Name Added to List of Brea Heroes : Basketball: Sophomore makes nine of nine from field and finishes with 20 points, 10 better than her average.

Sarah Beckley couldn’t miss Saturday in the Southern California Regional Division III girls’ basketball championship game.

Brea-Olinda High School’s hard-working sophomore forward made turnaround jump shots from the low post. She got inside position for easy follow shots. And she routinely hit baseline jumpers.

All told, Beckley scored 20 points, making nine of nine field-goals attempts and adding two free throws in Brea’s 70-51 victory over Rancho Alamitos at the Sports Arena.

Beckley had a hot hand early, scoring eight of Brea’s first 10 points. She reached her scoring average of 10 points with 2 minutes 59 seconds remaining in the first quarter. By then, Brea led, 16-6, and it was time to start making travel plans for Sacramento.

Afterward, Beckley said that working overtime in practice on her post moves paid off in the championship game.

“I’ve never had a game where I made every shot,” she said. “I was double-teamed a lot, and it seemed like there was defender in my face on every shot. I just tried to pump fake and then go around whoever was guarding me.

“I was thinking about this game all night. I woke up this morning and I was psyched. I’ve been struggling with my post moves, but I worked on them all week in practice.”

Beckley became a starter this season after playing on Brea’s junior varsity last year. She started playing for the Polecats, a city-sponsored traveling team, in the sixth grade, but said she struggled early in her career.

“I moved to Brea in the sixth grade and went to the games,” she said. “I joined the Polecats, but I wasn’t very good. I was a third-string player my first year, but I started working with Coach (John) Joslin. I owe a lot of my success to him.”

Until Saturday, Beckley had been primarily a role player behind standouts Jody Anton and Nicole Erickson. But she left an impression on Rancho Alamitos Coach Bob Becker.

’

‘I told her afterward that she played a great game,” Becker said.

Beckley scored 32 points against Anaheim this season but said her performance against Rancho Alamitos was her best yet.

“This was my biggest game,” she said. “Jody and Nicole lead the team, but I was open today. The passes to me were sharp. I felt more involved and part of the team than I have all season.”

Beckley’s turnaround jump shot near the baseline with 1:06 remaining in the third quarter gave Brea a 47-31 lead. She rested for four minutes in the fourth quarter and then got a big hug from Coach Mark Trakh when she finished play with two minutes left and Brea in control, 62-43.

“I’m so excited to be going to Sacramento for the State championship,” Beckley said. “I’ve followed Brea since the sixth grade, and now I have a chance to be part of the tradition.”