Adakai’s Strong Fourth Quarter Helps Santiago Advance

Ericka Adakai converted a three-point play with three seconds remaining to help Santiago defeat Bellflower, 43-40, in a Division II-A girls’ basketball playoff game Thursday at Bellflower.

Santiago (12-14) advanced to play at third-seeded Laguna Hills Saturday. Bellflower, the Suburban League champion, finished 18-6.

Bellflower tied it, 40-40, on a three-pointer with 20 seconds remaining, but Adakai, a 5-foot-9 senior center, answered for Santiago when she scored inside and was fouled. Adakai made the free throw for the final margin of victory. She scored 13 of her 22 points in the fourth quarter.

Adakai picked up the slack for Angie Ching-Sam, who entered the game averaging 18 points but managed only eight points Thursday.

In other Division II-A games:

Covina Westlake 41, Troy 39--Janea Butler scored 13 points for Troy (17-7), which fell behind by eight at the half.

El Dorado 59, Valencia 29--Heather Cunningham scored 13 points for El Dorado (18-5). Teammate Yvette deBruijn scored seven points and had eight steals.

The Golden Hawks, who held Valencia (11-14) to six first-half points, play La Puente Bishop Amat in the second round.

La Puente Bishop Amat 80, Garden Grove 49--The Argonauts could not match up with 6-foot-5 opponents Shannon Wosman and Kaiana Webb, who combined for 38 points. Sara Monsoor led Garden Grove (13-9) with 20 points. Bishop Amat is 22-5.

Perris 73, Tustin 35--Maylana Martin scored 22 points for fourth-seeded Perris (22-2). Shamekia Perkins scored 15 points for Tustin (12-15).

La Puente 45, Katella 21--La Puente (21-2) advanced to play Perris Saturday. Katella ended 11-13.

In Division II-AA:

Canyon 41, Pomona Garey 39 (OT)--Garey led early in overtime, but Canyon made seven consecutive shots to take control. Meaghan O’Neil made a three-pointer with 45 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime. Paullette Seamann had 20 rebounds and O’Neil finished the game with 19 points.

Canyon will host Norco Saturday.

Foothill 63, Trabuco Hills 50--Foothill led by two entering the fourth quarter, but then outscored visiting Trabuco Hills, 21-10. Robyn Templeton had 20 points and 10 rebounds for Foothill, which plays Loara Saturday.

Loara 49, Burbank Burroughs 45--Paola Flores scored 10 of her 16 points in the first half as visiting Loara built a 10-point lead. Flores also had 14 rebounds and seven assists for the Saxons (15-9).

Norco 66, Cypress 51--Cypress led, 12-9, after one quarter, but was outscored, 38-22, in the next two quarters. Freshmen Kirsten Wong and Lyndsay Weaver combined for 32 points to keep Cypress (11-15).

San Clemente 81, Yucaipa 35--Emily Ela and Kate Turnbull scored 15 points each for San Clemente (16-11), which will host Whittier La Serna Saturday.

Villa Park 57, Santa Margarita 42--Missy Bynon scored 15 of her 16 points in Villa Park’s 31-point second quarter. Santa Margarita ended 11-15. Villa Park (16-9) plays Riverside La Sierra Saturday.

In Division III-AA:

Newport Harbor 62, Newbury Park 58--Breanna Badorek had 22 points and 10 rebounds and M.E. Clayton added 17 points for Newport Harbor (15-11), which plays Sonora Saturday. Newbury Park’s Amy Berman scored 25 of her 28 points in the second half.

Norwalk Glenn 66, Bolsa Grande 58--Thao Dong scored 14 points and Jonielle Schmidt added 12 for Bolsa Grande (11-12). Bolsa Grande played without leading scorer Jana James, who was academically ineligible.

Redondo Union 51, La Habra 29--Erin Allard scored 12 points for La Habra (11-12). Redondo Union (14-9) plays Pacifica in the first round.

In Division V-A:

Liberty Christian 48, Heritage Christian 29--Heather Hill had 21 points and 16 rebounds for host Liberty Christian (16-9), which will play Mesrobian Saturday.