GIRLS’ BASKETBALL / SOUTHERN REGIONAL ROUNDUP : Woodbridge Charges in Battle of Unbeatens

Irvine Woodbridge High took a giant step toward a Division II State championship by defeating previously unbeaten Mission Hills Alemany, 46-41, at Anaheim Arena on Saturday.

The Warriors (32-0) scored the last seven points of the State Southern Regional final, holding the Indians (30-1) scoreless over the final 2 minutes 40 seconds.

Woodbridge will face Sacramento El Camino in the State championship game next Friday in Oakland.

Jamie Oenning made a jump shot with 1:25 remaining to give Woodbridge a 44-41 lead.

“You go to your best shooter down the stretch,” Coach Eric Bangs said. “That was the clutch shot. That was big.”

Woodbridge center Angela Burgess scored a game-high 12 points and had seven offensive rebounds.

Alemany was led by center Carly Funicello’s 12 points and eight rebounds.

DIVISION III

Brea-Olinda 67, Newport Harbor 39--The nation’s second-ranked team had no problem advancing to the State Division III championship.

The 28-point margin was the closest game the Ladycats had in seven playoff victories. They have won 53 games in a row.

Brea (32-0) won the Southern Section III-AA title a week earlier with a 70-40 victory over Newport Harbor (24-8) and did nothing different this time.

Nicole Erickson scored 14 points and had 14 assists for the Ladycats.

Sarah Beckley had a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Colleen Hudson had 16 points.

DIVISION IV

St. Bernard 54, Santa Ynez 41--Olympia Scott scored a game-high 25 points and also grabbed 12 rebounds to lead St. Bernard to its second consecutive Division IV Southern Regional victory before 1,347 at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

St. Bernard got in early foul trouble and Santa Ynez (26-6) took a 21-18 halftime lead, sparked by 10 points by Sherry Bjorklund.

But Scott scored 14 points in the third quarter, when St. Bernard (27-4) outscored Santa Ynez, 20-14, to take a 38-35 lead.

Marte Alexander scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to open up a 10-point lead for St. Bernard.

DIVISION V

El Cajon Christian 53, La Jolla The Bishop’s 48--Alisha Nater, a 6-foot-2 junior forward, scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Theresa Kain added 16 points to lead Christian (28-4) to its second consecutive Southern Regional title.

Richelle Perkins scored 18 points for The Bishop’s (27-4).