SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : DIVISION II GIRLS : Woodbridge Cannot Run, but Muir Still Can’t Hide

It wasn’t a game for the basketball purist, but Woodbridge played well enough to score a 47-31 victory over Pasadena Muir in a Division II Southern Regional girls’ basketball semifinal game Thursday at Woodbridge High.

The victory sets up a showdown with Brea Olinda, a 56-52 winner over Mission Hills Alemany, in the regional final Saturday at 1 p.m. at The Pond of Anaheim.

“We tried to run a little bit early in the game, but the way the game was refed, they let a lot go,” Woodbridge Coach Eric Bangs said. “We couldn’t get outlet passes going and there was a lot of tripping and fouling from both teams, so we couldn’t get a running game going. I guess that helped us.”

The Warriors (31-1) were able to take advantage of seven Muir turnovers and led 13-5 after the first quarter. Erin Stovall, who made 12 of 13 shots in the Warriors’ victory over San Diego Scripps Ranch Tuesday, picked up where she left off by making four of five shots in the quarter.

Muir (25-3), which shot only 21% for the game, made two of 12 shots in the first quarter. “We were really primed to get some turnovers early and turn them into easy baskets,” Bangs said.

Woodbridge settled into its half-court offense in the second quarter and continued to smother the Mustangs, who made only to two of 13 field goals in the quarter. Angela Burgess scored four points and grabbed three rebounds and the Warriors led, 26-13, at the half.

“The only thing we were worried about inside was having foul trouble on Burgess,” Bangs said. “We figured their center couldn’t shoot over Burgess and she couldn’t.”

By the third quarter, Muir abandoned its attempt to get the ball to center Tomisha Hughes, who finished with five points on two-for-six shooting. However, the Mustangs’ outside shooting was worse--they struggled to hit the rim from outside. “Their outside shooting is pretty bad,” Bangs said.

As bad as Muir played for the first three quarters, an 8-0 run late in the third quarter brought the Mustangs to within seven with 25 seconds left.

Woodbridge then got a clutch basket from Melanie Pearson; she drove the lane and hit a short jumper with five seconds left to give the Warriors a 34-25 lead.

“When we did execute you could tell,” Bangs said. “We went right inside and got some easy baskets. Credit their defense, they held us to 47 points when we average 72 a game.”