GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : Free Throws Lift Gardena in 3-A, 50-48

Taryn Takaki made two free throws with 10 seconds remaining Tuesday night to lift Gardena High to a 50-48 victory over Jefferson in a City Section Division 3-A semifinal at Hamilton High.

Gardena (17-9) will play Wilmington Banning in the championship at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Sports Arena for its first appearance in a title game.

The Mohicans trailed by as much as seven in the third quarter but rallied as the game came to an close. They took the lead for good with about a minute left on a layup by Tomika Cantley, who led Gardena with 13 points. Petal Wisdow had 10.

Kyetra Brown scored a game-high 25 points for Jefferson (17-10), the defending 3-A champion.

No. 3 Mission Hills Alemany 69, No. 13 Ventura 40--Carly Funicello scored 23 points, had 14 rebounds and blocked five shots to lead Alemany (27-0) in a Southern Section Division II-AA game at Encino Crespi High.

Samantha Wrigley added 20 points for Alemany, which gained a 20-4 first quarter lead. Ember Brown scored 14 points for Ventura (21-6).

Alemany will play San Bernardino (25-4) in the final Saturday at Cal Poly Pomona at 1 p.m.

Roosevelt 60, Washington 54--Trailing, 52-49, with two seconds remaining in regulation, Roosevelt (19-2) forced an overtime when Edna Alvarz made a three-point shot.

The Roughriders dominated the overtime period to advance to the City 4-A championship Friday against Crenshaw.

Tyson Hunt, a 6-foot-3 junior, led Roosevelt with 22 points, 13 rebounds and two blocked shots.

Crenshaw 58, Carson 52--Crenshaw trailed 52-50 with two minutes to play, but scored the final eight points to defeat Carson for the third time this season in a City 4-A semifinal game at Wilmington Banning High.

Naila Moseley had 18 points for Crenshaw (21-5). Kristi Lattin scored six points during the decisive run, and Kimberly Howse had 12 each for the defending 4-A champions.

Carson finished 22-5.

No. 9 San Bernardino 60, No. 10 Cypress 51--San Bernardino led by as much as 18 but struggled in the fourth quarter of its Southern Section Division II-A semifinal at La Palma Kennedy High.

The Cardinals led, 44-26, heading late the third quarter, but they missed their first six free throws of the fourth quarter as Cypress (26-4) made its move.

The Cardinals were led by center Celeste Gude, who had 20 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out with two minutes left. La Tonya Kindle had 15 points for San Bernardino. Jessica Eggleston had 17 for Cypress.