Hinojosa, Moorpark Survive Shootout

The Bell-Jeff girls’ basketball tournament provided its own version of Star Wars Saturday night, with two of the nation’s premier players facing off for the championship.

And neither Courtney Young of Crossroads High nor Damaris Hinojosa of Moorpark disappointed during Moorpark’s 54-43 victory.

“If you were anywhere else in L.A. but here tonight, you were in the wrong place,” Coach Brent Milburn of Moorpark said.

Young collected 28 points, 18 rebounds, seven steals and six blocked shots for the Roadrunners (12-2), who were seeking their second title in three championship-game appearances this season.

Hinojosa, The Times’ Ventura County player of the year last season, had 24 points, 10 rebounds and five steals.

After claiming the tournament’s most valuable player award, the Pepperdine-bound senior admitted the matchup with Young, a sophomore, provided significant motivation.

“[She] is a great player,” said Hinojosa, who had 13 of the Musketeers’ 19 points in the fourth quarter.

“She makes me a better player . . . but it wasn’t just the two of us. Everybody stepped up for us tonight.”

Indeed, scoring depth was the difference.

Moorpark (11-1), ranked No. 5 in the region by The Times, got eight points from freshman guard Kelly Geis and six points each from Cathleen Leaver, Emily Williams and Kristin Nadas. Leaver had 10 rebounds.

Moorpark, formerly a power in the Frontier League, will need such depth beginning Monday when it meets No. 4 Simi Valley in its first game since bumping up to the rugged Marmonte League.

Sharon Yamauchi had seven points for Crossroads.

Michelle More of Crossroads, who scored 25 points in a semifinal victory over North Hollywood, was hampered by foul trouble and finished with only four points.

North Hollywood 67, St. Monica 35--Tashean Thomas scored 30 points for the Huskies, who took a 15-3 first-quarter lead and coasted in the third-place game.

Markia Derby added nine points, while Angelle Hill and Richelle Sherman each had eight points for No. 10 North Hollywood (9-4).

Robin Marten and Danielle Adefeso each scored 11 points for St. Monica (9-4).

El Camino Real 56, Royal 38--All-City guard Cara Blumfield scored 17 points to help the Conquistadores win the fifth-place game.

Karen Shun added 13 points and Christina Aguinaga had 12 for No. 9 El Camino Real (11-4).

Mari Myllykoski had 12 points and nine rebounds for the Highlanders (5-5), who were playing without starters Kristin Galbreath and Teresa Russell.

Hueneme 43, Valencia 33--The Vikings were late to the consolation championship game after its bus had a flat tire.

Hueneme (7-6) quickly took control, then built a 33-13 third-quarter lead before Valencia (7-7) rallied.

Junior forward Kristina Tobolarova scored 20 points for Hueneme.

AYALA TOURNAMENT

Brea Olinda 71, Ventura 37--Lynsey Davison scored eight of her 14 in the third quarter to ignite a 19-5 run and Brea Olinda downed the Cougars the third-place game.

Alex Gienke scored 14 and Kristine Gleisberg had 10 points and 11 rebounds for Ventura.

Harvard-Westlake 58, St. Lucy’s 42--Omelogo Udeze had 31 points and 11 rebounds for the No. 6-ranked Wolverines (14-3) in a consolation game.