SOUTHERN SECTION GIRLS’ BASKETBALL : Vaqueros Go the Distance but Survive

Rancho Alamitos has been to the Southern Section finals three of the last four years, but the Vaqueros, seeded third in Division III-A, almost didn’t get out of the first round Saturday night.

Rancho took its first lead with 1 minute 30 seconds left in the game and scored a 60-57 victory over visiting San Dimas (14-12).

Rancho Alamitos will play at Estancia in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.

Detra Vickers hit a three-pointer with 2:45 left to tie the score at 51, and the Vaqueros (20-6) took the lead a little more than a minute later.

Akilah Rodgers scored 13 of her game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter as Rancho Alamitos outscored the Saints, 23-14. Rodgers also had 17 rebounds.

Vickers was also a defensive standout. San Dimas’s Christen King scored 15 points in the first quarter, but Vickers held her to only six over the final three.

San Dimas finishes 14-12.

In another Division III-A game:

Estancia 60, Bellflower 30--Laura Czingula scored 22 points, including 10 of 10 from the free-throw line, and grabbed 10 rebounds for Estancia (20-4).

In Division I-AA:

San Gabriel 61, Fountain Valley 46--Nicole Strange scored a game high 17 points for Fountain Valley, which finished 17-10.

In Division I-A:

Capistrano Valley 54, Perris 45--Susan Scott scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Cougars (14-13), who will play Buena Wednesday.

Corona 55, Marina 47--Sonya Bryant scored 13 points for Marina (20-7). Corona is 22-3.

Mater Dei 67, Canyon Springs 41--Leticia Oseguera had 16 points and Melody Peterson had 12 points, eight rebounds and 12 assists for third-seeded Mater Dei (22-3), which will play Quartz Hill Wednesday.

San Clemente 53, Chino 47--Michelle Macintyre, Alicia Waldner and Jenny Geminert each scored 11 points to lead the Tritons (20-5) who face Corona on Wednesday in the quarterfinals.

In Division IV-AA:

Costa Mesa 45, Bassett 38--Costa Mesa, last year’s III-A champion, improved to 17-7 as it opened its quest for a second consecutive title and will play Flintridge Sacred Heart in the quarterfinals Wednesday.

In a Division IV-A:

Whittier Christian 52, Agoura Oak Park 46--The Heralds (14-10) upset the top team from the Tri-Valley League, coming from 12 points down in the third quarter. Monique Moreno led Whittier Christian with 15 points, including four of four free throws in the final 30 seconds.

Whittier Christian will play No. 2-seeded Sun Valley Village Christian Wednesday.

Riverside Notre Dame 40, Calvary Chapel 38--Calvary Chapel’s season ended at 16-10.

In Division V-AA:

Capistrano Valley Christian 50, Avalon 21--Lisa Bradberry had 13 points and 13 rebounds for Capistrano Valley Christian (13-11) which will play Cambria Coast Union Wednesday.

In Division V-A:

Rio Hondo Prep 60, Heritage Christian 38--Heritage Christian finished 14-8 with the loss to third-seeded Rio Hondo Prep.