HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL : Woodbridge Survives a Scare, 44-42

Defending Southern Section Division II-AA champion Irvine Woodbridge will have a chance to defend its girls’ divisional title after surviving a scare in a 44-42 semifinal victory over unseeded Huntington Beach Marina on Wednesday night at Irvine High.

Erin Stovall led the Warriors (28-1), ranked No. 1 in the Southland by The Times, with 13 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter as Woodbridge overcame a 30-27 deficit.

Marina, ranked No. 16, had a chance to tie the score in the final 14 seconds, but its seventh turnover of the quarter led to two Stovall free throws that made it 44-39. Shandy Robbins, who finished with 16 points, made a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Marina (21-7) failed to score the first 6:25 of the second quarter, yet trailed at halftime by only three, 21-18.