SUNSET LEAGUE GIRLS’ BASKETBALL : Marina Hits the Boards, Beats Huntington Beach

Marina took control of the backboards in the second half and that was enough to take control of the game in a 50-46 victory over Huntington Beach in a Sunset League girls’ basketball opener Tuesday night at Marina High School.

Huntington Beach (10-3, 0-1 in league) came into the game with a five-game winning streak, and the Oilers outscrapped the taller Vikings in the first half to build a 27-25 lead.

But Marina, led by Jessica Tippet’s 14 points and 13 rebounds, went on an 11-4 run to take a 36-31 lead on Tippet’s basket with 2:40 left in the third quarter.

Marina (8-3, 1-0) outrebounded the Oilers, 36-24, for the game.

“In the second half, we needed to be a terror on the boards,” Marina Coach Pete Bonny said. “We played pretty good defense in the first half. The shots they made were earned. We contested every one.”

Marina led, 44-36, on Aimee Periolat’s basket with 4:50 remaining. Huntington Beach’s Clare Walker, who topped all scorers with 21 points, led a rally that closed the gap to 44-42 with 3:16 remaining. Trippet then scored from underneath with 2:11 left, and Shandy Robbins and Periolat each hit two free throws in the last 23 seconds to preserve the victory.

In other league games:

Edison 63, Rosary 57--Janette Oriza had 25 points for visiting Edison. Jennifer Chey scored 16 for Rosary (3-5, 0-1). Lauren Murphy, a freshman, added 11 points for Rosary.

Ocean View 33, Westminster 28--Theresa Martini and Kerri Umehira each had 10 points for Ocean View (7-5, 1-0). Farah Magee had a season-high 20 rebounds, breaking her previous best of 15.

Fountain Valley 39, Santa Ana 23--Robynn Kuhlmann had 11 points and Kathleen Traw had 10 points and seven rebounds for visiting Fountain Valley (7-5, 1-0). The teams were tied, 7-7, at the end of the first quarter, but Fountain Valley took a 21-14 lead at halftime. Santa Ana is 6-3, 0-1.