HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS : GIRLS’ DIVISION I : Palos Verdes Peninsula Stays Unbeaten, 60-50

Palos Verdes Peninsula High scored a 60-50 victory over Lynwood in the State Southern Regional Division I girls’ championship at the Sports Arena on Saturday night.

The top-seeded Panthers, ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today, improved to 32-0. They will play Cupertino Monte Vista for the State championship next Saturday at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

Cupertino (29-1) advanced with a 56-50 victory over Berkeley, the defending State champion.

Peninsula’s victory was its second over Lynwood in the past week. The Panthers defeated the Knights, 54-44, last Saturday in the Southern Section Division I-AA championship.

Lynwood trailed, 46-45, with five minutes remaining Saturday night, but was outscored, 17-11, during the fourth quarter.

“If we’re the best team in the country, then Lynwood is right around the corner,” said Wendall Yoshida, Peninsula’s coach. “They definitely should be ranked in the top 25.”

Lynwood, 27-3, played most of the game without 6-foot-4 center Janet Davis, sidelined because of a pulled muscle. Davis played 16 minutes and failed to score, but grabbed eight rebounds.

“With an All-American center sitting on the bench, it’s a little tough to beat the No. 1 team,” said Maurice Roberson, Lynwood’s coach. “This difference in both losses, though, was the play of their guards.”

Kristen Mulligan, Peninsula’s point guard, led her team with 19 points and six assists. Forward Mimi KcKinney added 12 points and nine rebounds.

Lynwood’s sophomore guard, Timicha Kirby, made three three-pointers and scored a game-high 25 points.