Bishop Montgomery Wins Title Again

A first-half run sparked Torrance Bishop Montgomery High to its second consecutive state title, with a 46-43 victory over Lafayette Acalanes in the Division III final Saturday at the Pond of Anaheim.

Bishop Montgomery (29-3) went on an 11-0 run late to close the first half and increased the lead to 31-16 in the third quarter. That proved to be too much ground for Acalanes (27-7) to make up.

Tied, 16-16, midway through the second quarter, Bishop Montgomery scored the next 15 points and looked like a runaway.

But Acalanes rallied in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter.

The Dons trailed, 44-41, after a basket by Corrie Mizusawa with 23 seconds left. It took two of four free throws by Bishop Montgomery’s Andree Verhulst to help the Knights prevail.

Tashara Carter had 21 points, 17 rebounds and two blocked shorts for Bishop Montgomery.

Danielle Silvana scored 11 for Acalanes, which shot only 34%.

Moraga Campolindo 68, Playa del Rey St. Bernard 54--In a game that included a combined 47 turnovers, Campolindo prevailed to win its third consecutive state Division IV title.

Guard Allyson Keener scored 27 points to lead Campolindo (33-2), which held off a late rally by St. Bernard (25-7).

In the final 5 minutes 30 seconds, the teams combined to commit 16 turnovers, and St. Bernard made only one of its final 13 field goals. Still, the Vikings were within four points with 1:39 remaining.

Keener scored on a lay-in and made six of eight free throws in the final 1:20.

Campolindo made 21 of 37 free throws, while St. Bernard went to the line only eight times and made three. Campolindo survived despite making only 35% of its field goals attempts. St. Bernard shot 34%.

Three players had 10 or more rebounds for St. Bernard, which held a 56-31 edge on the backboards. Ndidi Unaka and Tonda Williams scored 12 points each for the Vikings. Williams also had 11 rebounds. Teri Holmes scored 10 points and had 10 rebounds.