STATE PREP BASKETBALL FINALS / GIRLS’ ROUNDUP : Woodbridge Gets Revenge Against El Camino

For the past year, the Irvine Woodbridge High girls’ basketball team savored the thought of a rematch with Carmichael El Camino in the Division II state final.

And when the opportunity came, Woodbridge was ready, defeating El Camino, 55-40, before 6,000 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena to win its first state title.

“How many times can you go through the spring, summer and fall thinking about that one team and then getting the chance to play them again?” Woodbridge Coach Eric Bangs said. “Once we heard that they had won (the Northern Regional), we didn’t have to say a word to the kids. They knew everything they needed to know to get pumped up.”

With the victory, Woodbridge gained a measure of revenge for last season, when its 71-38 loss to El Camino set a Division II girls’ state final record for the widest margin of loss.

The Warriors (33-1) trailed by as many as five points in the first half before Erin Stovall made a three-point basket at the halftime buzzer to give them a 23-22 lead.

Stovall then made a 12-foot jump shot to start the second half, sparking the Warriors on a 7-2 run to increase their lead to six points, 30-24, with 3:30 to play in the third quarter.

The Eagles (33-3) threatened several times after that, but never got closer than three points.

The difference between this season and last is experience. El Camino has an entirely new starting lineup from last season, when it started five seniors. Woodbridge returned four starters and added talented sophomore forward Krissy Duperron, a transfer from Riverside Notre Dame.

“Everybody was kind of edgy last year, but this year we came in with confidence,” Woodbridge guard Tami Weaver said.

El Cajon Christian 49, Ripon Christian 47--Stephanie Shadwell made a 40-foot, three-point shot with one-tenth of a second remaining to give the Patriots (33-3) their second state title.

“Everyone dreams of making a last-second shot to win the state championship. It’s an indescribable feeling,” said Shadwell, who finished with 18 points.

Three seconds before the game-winning shot, Lisa Roos made two free throws to give Ripon Christian (35-4) a 47-46 lead.