STATE PREP BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT / GIRLS’ ROUNDUP : Mitty, Campolindo Are Champions

The San Jose Archbishop Mitty girls’ basketball team used a tenacious full-court pressure defense to defeat Newbury Park, 64-56, Saturday in the Division III state girls’ basketball final before about 4,000 in the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

Archbishop Mitty’s best player, Kerri Walsh, got into early foul trouble, but the Monarchs forced Newbury Park into 31 turnovers and were able to capitalize.

“They were very aggressive--probably the most aggressive team we’ve seen on defense,” said Nori Parvin, Newbury Park’s coach. “We made a lot of adjustments, but nothing seemed to be working today.”

Reyna Fortenberry led Archbishop Mitty (28-3) with 18 points and Walsh, a 6-foot-2 junior center, had 14, even though she played only 13 minutes. Leslie Quintal had nine steals.

Walsh picked up her third foul 30 seconds into the second quarter. With Walsh on the bench, Jann Thorpe scored 10 points to spark Newbury Park on a 14-3 run to a 25-21 lead with 1:48 to play in the half.

But Lisa McGhee made a three-point basket and Fortenberry scored the final four points of the half to put Archbishop Mitty back in front, 28-25.

After each team scored 19 points in the third quarter, Kara McKeown started the fourth quarter with a three-point play to tie the score, 47-47. But Fortenberry made a five-foot jump shot, then blocked a Newbury Park (31-2) shot and got the ball back and McGhee made a layup to put Archbishop Mitty ahead to stay, 51-47, with 5:42 remaining.

The Panthers, who start five seniors, were making their first appearance in a state final. Thorpe led Newbury Park with 21 points and McKeown contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Moraga Campolindo 62, Cerritos Valley Christian 37--Tracy Morris scored 17 points to lead Campolindo to its second Division IV girls’ state championship. The Cougars (32-3) also won in 1990.

Morris, a versatile 6-3 junior center, is one of two returning starters, along with guard Tristen Teasdale, the team’s only senior.

Cerritos Valley Christian (24-4) was led by USC-bound Jodi Parriott, who scored 18 points. Parriott, a 6-2 senior forward and the Crusaders’ only returning starter, picked up her third foul only 4:25 into the game. She sat out the final 3:35 of the first quarter and the first 1:15 of the second, during which time Campolindo went on a 20-2 run and never looked back.

“Here I am carrying my team to a state championship (game) and I had to sit on the bench,” Parriott said.