GIRLS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Avila, Strange Lead Fountain Valley Past Newport Harbor

Nicole Strange had the impressive numbers, but it was three three-point baskets by Erin Avila that helped Fountain Valley continue its emotional run through the Marina tournament.

Playing without their coach, Carol Strausburg, for the second day in a row--her mother died Monday--the Barons again knocked off one of the county’s best teams, scoring a 66-58 semifinal victory against Newport Harbor on Wednesday.

“The girls have done a good job of using (Strausburg’s absence) and her mother’s death as a motivator,” acting coach Dan Moran said. “The team is very young and no one expected us to do anything.”

All they did was beat 10th-ranked El Dorado and sixth-ranked Marina before defeating the Sailors.

Avila had 20 points, but, Moran said, her second-half three-pointers “were crucial because we weren’t running an offense.”

When they were, Strange was doing the scoring. She had 26 with 13 rebounds, including nine of her team’s final 13 points.

Avila had five points during a 7-0 run in which Fountain Valley took a 48-41 lead in the third quarter.

Fountain Valley plays Kent (Wash.) Meridian tonight at 8:30 p.m. in the championship game.

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In other tournament games:

Kent Meridian 57, Ocean View 46--Benishe Dillard scored 21 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, with 18 points in the second half and 10 in the fourth quarter as the Royals (7-2) stretched their three-point halftime lead and five-point third-quarter cushion.

Dillard’s performance overshadowed that of Becky Fraser, whose 14 points led Ocean View (8-2).

Jennifer Tuiolosega, whose consecutive three-point baskets tied the game at 11-11, led the Seahawks with 15 points. Ocean View led, 30-29, but Dillard’s turnaround jumper and two free throws marked the beginning of the end for the Seahawks.