SUNSET LEAGUE GIRLS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Huntington Beach Needs Double Overtime to Beat Edison

Both coaches agreed their teams had just played, perhaps, the greatest girls’ basketball game in Orange County history, and the numbers seemed to bear that out on a record-setting night.

Fifth-ranked Huntington Beach (16-3, 6-1) scored an 89-87 Sunset League victory over visiting Edison (10-7, 4-3) Thursday in a game that deserved its two overtime sessions. There were 49 ties or lead changes, the final one coming on Renee Kimoto’s two free throws with 12 seconds left in the game.

Kimoto ended up with the ball after Edison tried to inbound it with 17 seconds left. She drove to the basket and was fouled by Joan Paje.

Huntington Beach’s Clare Walker tied the game at 87 with 54 seconds remaining after stealing the ball.

It was a fine comeback for Huntington Beach in a game that had everything. And it was a rare moment when Walker--the Sunset League’s player of the year last year--was upstaged despite scoring 31 points.

Edison’s Paje had a night for the ages. She scored 50 points, converting 17 of 31 field goals--including seven three-pointers. In addition to the points and three-point baskets, her 12 assists were a school record.

The schools’ 176 combined points established an county record and fell just three short of the Southern Section mark, set by Riverside Poly-Norte Vista in the 1981-82 season.

Even the officials contributed to an intriguing evening. Stephanie Noffsinger apparently fouled out with 2:23 left in the first overtime, but officials gave the foul to teammate Heidi Slick--who wasn’t in the game. Noffsinger went to the bench. When it was discovered--with 1:30 left--that Noffsinger had only four fouls, she re-entered and scored the next four points, including a basket with four seconds left to tie the game at 82 and send it to the second overtime.

Edison took an 86-82 lead before Huntington Beach whittled away at the deficit. Noffsinger, who scored nine points in regulation, had eight in overtime.

In other Sunset League games:

Fountain Valley 56, Westminster 46--Julie Murdent scored 20 points for Fountain Valley (9-7, 4-3). Rachel Kavan led Westminster (5-11, 2-5) with 30 points.

Marina 52, Ocean View 38--Aimee Periolat had 14 points and Jessica Trippet had 12 points and 12 rebounds for host Marina (14-3, 7-0). Ocean View is 9-9, 3-4.

Rosary 49, Santa Ana 47--Jennifer Chey scored 15 points for visiting Rosary (4-10, 1-6). Cynthia Trotter led host Santa Ana with 14 points.