PLAYOFF PROFILES : Rose Blooms in Playoffs

Kristi Rose can’t say exactly how or why, but she spent most of the season in a dead zone playing for the Palmdale High girls’ basketball team, while others expected greatness from her.

“I don’t know why, but in games I was just there,” Rose said. “I had no confidence, and I wasn’t having any fun.

“Maybe there was one day of practice where I didn’t do good and it just stuck.”

The good news is Rose snapped out of her season-long trance in time to lead Palmdale (28-2) to its first Southern Section championship game. The unseeded Falcons will face top-seeded Peninsula (29-1) in the Division I-AA final Saturday at 2:45 p.m. at the Pyramid in Long Beach.

Rose is averaging 19.8 points and 12.2 rebounds through four playoff games. In a thrilling 61-60 victory over Simi Valley in the semifinals Tuesday, Rose had 23 points and nine rebounds.

During the season, Rose, a 6-foot-4 center, averaged 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds. Those numbers seemed substandard for a senior who signed a letter of intent with Utah in November and played spectacularly against top competition during the summer.

Palmdale, with forwards Monique Nolan and Marje Knott and guards Edniesha Curry and Casey Bledsoe providing a strong supporting cast, rarely had to rely on Rose before the playoffs.

But when teammates did get the ball inside to Rose, she was often ineffective.

“I’d just turn around and shoot and brick them,” she said. “But my jump shot is better, and I’m mentally in the game now.”

Rose was frustrated, often crying when she got home from practice. But when people asked her what was wrong, Rose didn’t have the answer.

But late in the season, Rose snapped out of her funk after changing her shooting technique and mental approach.

“My teammates kept telling me I can control the game and I can dominate,” she said.

Said George Corisis, Palmdale coach: “She’s playing big and she looks like a Division I player.”