Brea Takes Care of Business, Wins Another Section Title

There was no jumping up and down and screaming with delight, only handshakes and hugs.

Winning Southern Section titles is taken in stride at Brea Olinda.

The Ladycats added their section-record eighth consecutive title to their resume Saturday with a 54-44 victory over Ocean View at the Pyramid in the Division II-A championship game.

But if winning a title is rote, the way the Ladycats won No. 8 was anything but.

Jennifer Saari re-injured her strained knee and didn’t play the final 19 1/2 minutes. At the time she hobbled off the floor, she had seven points and the Ladycats had a 20-12 lead.

She was replaced by freshman Lindsey Davidson, who responded in very Brea-like fashion, assisting on a sweet basket by Catherine Solorio, then picking the pocket of D.J. Douty and scoring on a layup to make it 26-12.

Davidson finished with seven points, six rebounds, four steals and two assists to become the latest name added to Ladycat lore.

“She played as good as you could expect a freshman point guard to play,” Brea Coach Jeff Sink said. “Saari was begging to go into the game, especially when [Ocean View] pulled to within three points.

“But I think she’s one of the premier players in the country and we don’t jeopardize her career for a basketball game. I’ve never done that and I hope I never will.”

It’s the second time Davidson had to replace Saari in a playoff game. She did the same thing in the third quarter of a 94-62 victory over South Torrance.

“I was a little more nervous back then, but it was in the third quarter and we were leading by 20,” Davidson said. “I knew we wouldn’t lose.”

Which made the stakes against Ocean View considerably more significant.

Davidson’ most crucial contribution came at the end of the third quarter after Brea’s shooting went stone cold--one for nine during one stretch.

At the same time, Becky Fraser (16 points), who had only one field-goal attempt in the first half, asserted herself. Fraser scored 10 points in a 15-0 run that cut Brea’s lead to 35-32 with 1:23 left in the third.

But Rochelle Anthony (nine points) hit a turnaround jumper with 41 seconds left, and Davidson added a desperation 29-footer at the buzzer to put Brea ahead, 40-32.

“I taught her that,” Saari said.

Davidson’s shot elicited screams of delight on the Brea sideline.

“That three-pointer was a real heartbreaker,” Ocean View Coach Ollie Martin said.

The Seahawks battled back to within four, 47-43, with 67 seconds left, but Anthony made the front of a one-and-one free-throw opportunity, and Marissa Bradley followed with a basket after the missed free throw.

Davidson wasn’t the only unknown to contribute in a big way.

Stephanie Wettlin had 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Bradley had 11 points and six steals.

“Everyone knows how good Saari is,” Martin said. “I saw a couple of their games on tape, and I found out how good Bradley and Anthony were. They have tremendous players on the bench.”