Brea Olinda Holds Off Perris, 54-53

Brea Olinda’s swarming defense prevented Perris from getting off a shot in the final nine seconds to preserve a 54-53 Southern Section Division II-A girls’ basketball victory Saturday, as the Wildcats advanced to the section final for the eighth consecutive season. Brea Olinda will face Ocean View for the title next weekend at the Pyramid in Long Beach.

“I told the girls that if we could limit [6-foot-5] Maylana Martin to less than 30 points we would win,” Brea Olinda Coach Jeff Sink said.

Stephanie Wettlin helped deny the ball to Martin, who is bound for UCLA. Martin, who averaged 33 points and 18 rebounds this season, had 21 points, most off offensive rebounds. Wettlin had eight steals and deflected five passes out of bounds, but it was her two rebounds in the final two minutes that helped preserve the victory.

Perris (24-3) led by as many as 10 points in the second quarter, when Leaf Newman scored 12 points to spearhead the Panther surge. Brea Olinda (26-3) answered with a 12-0 run in the third quarter.

Marissa Bradley scored from underneath with 65 seconds left to give the Wildcats a 54-52 lead.

Martin hit one free throw with 21 seconds to cut the lead to one. Brea’s Jennifer Saari, who was considered doubtful an hour before the game because of a sprained knee, missed a free throw, and with nine seconds left Perris called timeout to get the ball at midcourt and set up a final shot. The Panthers were unable to get the shot off.

Rochelle Anthony and Bradley each scored 17 points to lead the Wildcats.