STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : El Camino Has Its Hart in Right Place : Division II girls: Senior center, 6 feet 3, is happy to prove herself against 6-4 Angela Burgess of Woodbridge.

In the battle of big folk, Emily Hart stood just a little taller.

Hart, a 6-foot-3 senior center for Sacramento El Camino, outdueled Angela Burgess, Woodbridge’s 6-4 junior, in the State Division II girls’ basketball championship game Friday. Hart finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds in the 71-38 victory at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

It was a big moment for Hart because of the bigger opponent.

“When I saw they had a 6-4 center, I was really happy because it was a chance to prove myself against someone my own size,” Hart said. “I could prove that I wasn’t just taking advantage of short people.”

She did get a little respect. A little.

“I didn’t think she was that tough,” Burgess said. “She just hit her shots. But she played pretty well.”

Hart got the better of the clash of giants from the start. She had nine points and four rebounds in the first half, and the Eagles led, 27-19.

Burgess finished the game with nine points, making four of 10 shots, and seven rebounds.

The two banged bodies throughout, with Burgess getting the better of the physical play. At one point in the third quarter, Burgess even landed an elbow in Hart’s back after the whistle had been blown, but no foul was called.

“I can understand that,” Hart said. “You get frustrated out there, and sometimes you do something like that. Of course, I was mad at the time.”

But getting the upper hand might have helped lower the rage.

Burgess was stronger, but Hart was quicker and more agile. She was a constant thorn in the side of the Warriors, mucking up their offense at every opportunity.

Hart blocked six shots.

“There’s no doubt she disrupted our offense,” Woodbridge Coach Eric Bangs said.

Hart became a severe problem at the start of the second half, when the Warriors were still in the game.

Burgess scored on a five-footer at the start of the third quarter to cut the deficit to 27-21. A missed shot gave the Warriors the ball back, and they went right at Hart again.

This time, she blocked Burgess’ shot.

Hart then got an offensive rebound, which led to a three-pointer by Kristin Niemann. A few minutes later, Hart blocked another shot, then drew an offensive foul. Her play fueled a 13-0 run, and the rout was on.

“I just love stopping people from scoring,” Hart said. “Defense is what I do best.”

Her offense wasn’t too bad, either.

She made four of seven shots, mostly on turnarounds over Burgess.

Hart, who averages 12.6 points, scored 16 in the Northern Regional final against Pleasanton Amador Valley. She had a triple double in the semifinals against Atherton Menlo--12 points, 10 rebounds and 11 blocked shots.

Her play improved dramatically this season after she attended a training camp run by the Sacramento Kings during the summer; she was one of only five girls in attendance. It helped her earn a scholarship to Loyola Marymount.

“It improved my quickness and strength,” Hart said. “Those are things I still need to work on, especially strength. The Woodbridge girl pushed me around.”

Burgess also has improved. She averaged 8.8 points as a freshman, 12.4 this season.

But on Saturday, it was Hart who was head and shoulders above her competition.