Haneef Too Tall of an Order for Moorpark, 60-41

Reaching for new heights in the history of Moorpark High girls’ basketball, the Musketeers came up short.

Tayyiba Haneef, a 6-foot-6 senior center for Laguna Hills, scored 20 points and grabbed 16 rebounds and Moorpark was unable to match up in a 60-41 loss in the Southern California Regional Division II semifinals Thursday night at Laguna Hills.

Haneef, who will play volleyball and compete in track for Long Beach State next year, established herself inside and dominated the second and third quarters.

“We couldn’t jump any higher than we were to stop her,” Moorpark’s Damaris Hinojosa said. “We just couldn’t reach. We couldn’t match up with her.”

The Musketeers (26-4) were Southern Section Division II-A runners-up and made it to the state tournament for the first time ever.

Laguna Hills (29-3), Southern Section Division II-AA champion, advances to the regional final against Division II-A champion Brea Olinda on Saturday at the Pond.

Despite Haneef, Hinojosa stood tall herself, with 30 points and 10 rebounds. She made 12 of 26 shots and was five of eight on free throws, accounting for all but 11 of the Musketeers’ points.

The 5-10 sophomore center tried to carry the Musketeers in the second half, scoring 21 of her points in the third and fourth quarters.

Hinojosa was forced to step up because the Musketeers lost standout guard Tracey Milburn to fouls with 6:13 remaining.

By then, Moorpark trailed by 14 points, and the deficit reached 21 points.

“We were able to take over inside after a while,” Laguna Hills Coach Lynn Taylor said.

“Once we did that, I think that kind of took the wind out of their sails and we took control of the game.”

The Musketeers made 17 of 52 shots (32.6%), while the Hawks made 26 of 52 (50%).

“We just didn’t have it tonight,” Hinojosa said. “But I’m happy with what we’ve done. We’ve never come this far before. I’m proud of our season.”

Moorpark trailed, 10-7, after the first quarter, but the deficit grew to 25-17 at halftime as Haneef began to assert herself. She collected eight points and six rebounds in the second quarter and added eight more points in the third.

Mary Tims scored 12 points, Tamara Inoue added 11 and Whitney Houser had 10 for Laguna Hills.

Milburn finished with seven points and five steals.

Both teams employed an effective full-court press that created a furious pace.

The defense helped force Moorpark into 22 turnovers, including 14 in the first half. Laguna Hills committed 14 turnovers, eight in the first half.