DIVISION I-AA GIRLS’ BASKETBALL : Ybarra Helps Stop Esperanza

Gina Ybarra’s strong defensive performance in the final two minutes of the game helped Fountain Valley to a 62-58 victory over Esperanza in a Southern Section Division I-AA wild-card game Wednesday at Fountain Valley.

After Erin Avila made a three-point shot to give the Barons a 57-56 lead with 1 minute 41 seconds left in the game, Ybarra stole an Aztec pass, setting up a basket by Lisa Feng.

Esperanza’s Kimberly Hayashi made two free throws with 17 seconds left to cut the margin to one and Hayashi’s quick foul put Jen Ludwicki on the free-throw line with 16 seconds remaining. She made the first free throw to give Fountain Valley a 60-58 lead. She missed the second, but Ybarra got the offensive rebound.

She was fouled and made both free throws to preserve the victory.

“Gina worked hard without the ball all game and the effort paid off in the end,” Fountain Valley Coach Carol Strausburg said.

The Barons (17-9) advance to a first-round game at San Gabriel Saturday.

Fountain Valley got out to a 17-10 lead in the first quarter, but Esperanza bounced back to take the lead with five minutes left in the first half. The teams were tied at the half, 27-27.

Esperanza (15-10) built a seven-point lead early in the fourth quarter before Fountain Valley rallied.

The Aztecs’ second-half attack was led by Lindsay Foss, who scored nine points off six offensive rebounds, and Jodie Howard, who made three of her four three-pointers in the third quarter. Howard finished with 17 points and Foss and Kristy Kierulff each had 13.

Two baskets after offensive rebounds by Foss gave Esperanza its final lead of the game, 56-54.

Ludwicki scored 21 points, Nicole Strange had 14 and Feng had 11 for Fountain Valley. Strange scored eight in the final quarter.

Fountain Valley stopped a three-game losing streak.