Brea Olinda Presses Tritons

Brea Coach Jeff Sink says his girls’ basketball team was still smarting after two losses in the Santa Barbara Tournament, back in December, and Saturday night’s 79-55 nonleague victory over San Clemente was just what they needed to get back in step.

“This was a big win for us,” Sink said. “We got thumped in Santa Barbara, so this was a chance to see where we are at.

“San Clemente is definitely one of the top three teams in the county and when you can play that well against a good team, you have to be happy.”

The top-ranked Ladycats (13-3) came out a little slow in the first quarter and traded the lead back and forth.

Brea was up, 14-13, at the end of the quarter.

The Ladycats stepped up their full-court pressure and opened the second quarter with a 16-2 run.

The defensive pressure caused San Clemente to rush its offense and turn the ball over six times in the quarter.

The fifth-ranked Tritons never got closer than eight points after that.

“Our pressure defense wore them out,” Sink said. “When we come out to play we can run on anyone.”

San Clemente (14-7) also had a hard time handling Brea’s Chelsea Trotter inside.

The 6-3 forward finished with 22 points and 19 rebounds.

Jerri Armendariz was also a key for Brea, replacing Jeri Costello, who left the game after twisting her ankle two minutes after the opening tip.

Armendariz finished with 16 points, including five in the final four seconds of the third quarter, giving Brea a 56-35 lead.

Sink’s game plan was to shutdown San Clemente’s Colleen Turnbull and Debby Caine.

The Ladycats accomplished half of that feat, holding Turnbull to eight points and five rebounds. Turnbull, who got into foul trouble, drawing her third midway through the second quarter, made only four of 12 shots from the field.

Caine led San Clemente with 20 points, on six of 11 shooting from the field.