HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS : Montgomery Beats Alemany in Division II

Despite going scoreless in the final 3 minutes 56 seconds, Torrance Bishop Montgomery escaped with a 45-44 victory over Woodland Hills Alemany in the Southern Regional Division II girls’ final Saturday at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Alemany wasted five opportunities to go ahead in the last 1:08, including a missed baseline jump shot by Samantha Rigley with four seconds to play.

Shelley Dungo gave Bishop Montgomery (27-7) a 45-38 lead with a breakaway layup. But Kelly McKay made a free throw with 1:33 left to bring Alemany to within the final score.

Alemany (28-5) beat Bishop Montgomery to win the Southern Section Division II-AA title and in one of two Mission League meetings en route to the league championship.

“We wanted a rematch,” said senior guard Mirlen Martinez, who had two steals in the final minute. “We came into the game with the idea that we were not going to go out and lose this third game.”

Keisa Smith had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Natalie Graham had 14 points for Bishop Montgomery, which will face Hayward Moreau--a 61-52 winner over Fair Oaks Del Campo in the Northern Regional--in the state championship game in Sacramento on Saturday.