HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GIRLS PLAYOFF ROUNDUP : Giordano, Falls Lead Buena Over Huntington Beach, 64-60

Michelle Giordano and Amanda Falls made two free throws each in the final 28 seconds to lift host Buena High to a 64-60 victory over Huntington Beach during the Southern Section Division I-A girls’ basketball quarterfinals Saturday night.

Buena (21-2), ranked sixth, led the entire game until Huntington Beach freshman guard Renee Kimoto made two three-point shots in a row to tie the score, 60-60, with 45 seconds remaining. Those two shots were the only field goals Kimoto made.

But Giordano, a 6-foot junior forward, worked free for a shot 17 seconds later. Her attempt spun around the rim and fell out, but Giordano was fouled and made both free throws.

With a 62-60 lead, Falls stole a pass from Jenna Schnacker to Kimoto as Kimoto was setting up for another three-point try. Falls was fouled with 14 seconds to play and made both free throws to clinch it for the Bulldogs.

Julie Hardy scored 19 points and Giordano added 16 points and 13 rebounds to spark Buena, which led by 56-45 with 3:04 to play. But Buena made only four of 10 free throws in the next two minutes to allow Huntington Beach (25-3) to get back into the game.

Senior guard Deana Itow scored 22 points and senior forward Clare Walker added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Oilers, which saw their 15-game winning streak end.