Esperanza Gets Upset by Fontana

Third-seeded Esperanza, vying for its first appearance in the Southern Section girls’ basketball finals in 17 years, was upset on the road Saturday by unseeded Fontana, 65-56, in a Division I-AA quarterfinal.

Esperanza (22-6) trailed, 48-34, heading into the fourth quarter, but cut the lead to four points with 5 minutes 30 seconds left.

However, Fontana (21-5), despite making only nine of 22 free-throws in the fourth quarter, was able to hang on. Fontana made 19 of 45 free throws in the game; Esperanza made only eight of 20.

Leah Combs scored 16 points and had 10 rebounds for the Aztecs. Beth Weidler, who made the winning three-point basket with two seconds left in Esperanza’s second-round victory over Century, added 12 points.

In a II-AA semifinal game:

Laguna Hills 54, Norco 39--Laguna Hills (26-3) advanced to the section finals for the first time in the program’s history with its victory at Corona Centennial High. The Hawks held a modest eight-point halftime lead before its press stretched the lead to 19 at one point in the third. Norco had only 23 points after three quarters and trailed by 15. Tamara Inoue led Laguna Hills with 18 points; she finished with 10 steals.

Whitney Houser had 16 points and eight rebounds for Laguna Hills; Tayyiba Haneef scored 12 points and had 15 rebounds.

Norco, unseeded in the tournament ended the season 20-8.

Laguna Hills will face Cerritos Gahr in the championship.

In another Division II-A quarterfinal game:

Brea Olinda 70, Newport Harbor 40--Brea Olinda led by only seven at the half when four starters were forced to the bench for most of the second quarter because of foul trouble.

The Sailors pulled within five in the third quarter before the Ladycats pulled away. Brea plays No. 4 La Puente Bishop Amat, a 44-29 winner over Los Altos. Jennifer Saari led Brea with 16 points.

Compton Dominguez 63, Ocean View 58--Ocean View, seeded second, trailed by two and turned the ball over in the closing seconds, enabling Dominguez (26-5) to drive in for the score and the upset.

Jennifer Tuiolosega scored 15 of her 27 points from three-point range to lead Ocean View (25-5). Sophomore guard Tracy Lindquist scored 11 and had six assists.

In a Division V-AA quarterfinal:

Capistrano Valley Christian 54, Palos Verdes Chadwick 53 (OT)--Two missed free throws and a missed shot off the rebound in the final three seconds enabled Capistrano Valley Christian to reach the semifinals against Lone Pine, a 54-50 winner over Santa Clara.