Brea Survives Edison Rally in Regional

Chelsea Trotter provided an inside presence Brea Olinda lacked in its last three trips to the girls’ Southern California Regional final, but it was the play of guard Lindsey Davidson that might have ultimately sent the Ladycats to a record seventh state title game.

Davidson’s floor leadership helped Brea Olinda withstand a furious rally that wiped out most of a 19-point lead as the top-seeded Ladycats held on for a 64-52 Division II regional girls’ basketball victory over second-seeded Fresno Edison Saturday at Pauley Pavilion.

The Ladycats have not played in the title game since they won their fourth consecutive title (and a mythical national championship) in 1993-94.

Trotter, a 6-2 sophomore forward, scored 26 points and had 11 rebounds, two blocks and four steals for Brea Olinda. She averaged 25.3 points in three regional games. Combined with 6-0 Kate Ides and 5-11 reserve Amanda Strum, the Ladycats took advantage of a 2-3 zone to negate the powerful up-tempo and inside game that had helped Edison average 83 points this season.

Edison, which pressed throughout the game, shot 31.7% (19 of 60) from the field and was outrebounded under its basket, 17-14. That was critical, because the Tigers shot better than 50% on the season.

Brea Olinda, which had shot 31.4% in its previous three losses in regional finals--all at The Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim--had no such shooting problem at Pauley Pavilion. The Ladycats shot 47.3% (26 of 55), led by Erin Kelly (eight for 12), Davidson (five for 10) and Trotter (10 for 21).

It is the 21st consecutive victory for Brea Olinda (32-1), which plays Friday at Sacramento’s Arco Arena against Redding Shasta, a 51-49 winner over Fair Oaks Del Campo. Brea Olinda will be seeking its sixth state title, two more than any other California girls’ team.

Edison is 28-3.

Kelly, a senior guard, scored 19 and had four steals for Brea Olinda. Davidson, a junior point guard and the only returning starter from last season, scored 12, but her presence was probably biggest when the game was on the line.

Brea Olinda had opened a 19-point third-quarter lead on Davidson’s three-point basket with 5 minutes 5 seconds left to play. But about a minute later, she picked up her fourth foul. She sat for the next 7:52 and Brea Olinda made only two field goals during that time.

When Davidson eventually returned, the Ladycats made five of their last six shots.

“It took a lot of stress off the kids when she returned,” said Brea Olinda assistant Tony Matson, who watched the Ladycats commit 11 turnovers in Davidson’s absence. “They know when Lindsey gets the ball, it’s coming up the floor.”

Edison Coach Bill Engel noticed a glimmer of hope when he saw one. Edison intensified the pressure that Davidson had broken all day and whittled the deficit to nine, 50-41. Davidson came back in with 4:42 left and the payoff was immediate: after Davidson broke the press, Kelly scored twice on layups in the next minute.

Edison hung tough, however. A three-point basket and a follow shot after a turnover made it 54-50 with 2:07 left.

Davidson, continuing to take charge, drove the lane for a basket before Edison’s Tonisha Yancey (17 points, 12 rebounds) scored on a six-foot jumper to make it 56-52 with 1:32 to go.

Trotter and Kelly followed with three-point plays, and Trotter scored underneath to finish off the Tigers.

Brea Olinda Coach Jeff Sink said it was difficult to keep Davidson on the bench when Edison made its comeback. Davidson said it was even tougher on her.

“I was whining, ‘Come on, put me in,’ ” Davidson recalled. “I was pushing [Sink]. But he made the right decision to wait because it was such a physical game.

“I’m glad I came in when I did; I could go full-bore and not have to play with caution.”

Sink’s reason for waiting until he had no choice: “If she went in and picked up her fifth foul, it would have given Edison such an emotional boost and the outcome could have gone the other way. I didn’t want to give them the edge with our most valuable player at that point in the game.”

The Ladycats could have used reserve point guard Jeri Armendariz when Davidson was gone, but Armendariz volunteered to give her jersey to Trotter, who left the appropriate jersey at home.

“You can’t win a title without a dominant post player and tremendous point guard,” Sink said. “Lindsey doesn’t get the deserving props sometimes. She has led us. She’s a great, great point guard.”