Division II Girls

Where--The Pyramid, Long Beach State, 6 tonight

Fresno Edison (28-1)--The Tigers have been knocked from the regionals the last two seasons by Brea, including last year in the finals, 64-52. The Tigers trailed by 21 midway in the third quarter but made a game of it after Brea’s Lindsey Davidson went to the bench in foul trouble and pulled to 54-50 with 2 minutes 4 seconds remaining. Fresno returns three starters: sisters Tonisha and Kendra Yancey and Java Johnson. Tonisha Yancey scored 32 in an 83-73 victory over Culver City despite being sick. Johnson (10 rebounds, three steals) is also capable of big numbers. Edison has won 14 in a row, including a 57-44 victory over Foothill Thursday; Brea defeated Foothill in the Southern Section final, 76-45. The Tigers’ best defender, Tamija Tucker, stretched her ligaments in the Central Section semifinal and will not play, but that won’t prevent Edison from trying to slow Brea’s fastbreak. Edison made 37% from the field this season. The Knights are athletic and make their living on the offensive boards, beating Foothill on the strength of second and third shots; they average 80 points.

Brea Olinda (29-3)--Chelsea Trotter (21 points, 11.5 rebounds), a 6-3 forward, injured her knee in Thursday’s 59-48 victory over La Puente Bishop Amat and probably won’t play. She had an MRI Friday afternoon. Six-foot junior Jill Trader (8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds), who usually replaced Kate Ides (10.2 points, 7.1 rebounds) whenever Ides got in foul trouble, will replace Trotter. Ides can’t afford to get in foul trouble. The Ladycats can go small, with defensive wiz Jeri Costello moving down low. In a worst-case scenario, Davidson could also post up at the expense of losing her as a three-point threat. Ides has done a terrific job defensively against some outstanding posts, like Bishop Amat’s Shannon Wosman and Harbor City Narbonne’s Ebony Hoffman, and she’ll need another big game against the athletic Yancey.

Key to the game--What might have been an easy outcome to predict has suddenly become jumbled. Brea’s poise and confidence could be a factor in Trotter’s absence, but foul trouble could create a real problem.

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Starting Lineups

FRESNO EDISON

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P Name Ht. Avg. F Java Johnson 5-11 15.5 F Gabby Sims 5-10 8.0 C Tonisha Yancey 6-2 22.7 G Kendra Yancey 6-1 12.0 G Amber Easter 5-10 6.0

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Coach: Bill Engel

BREA OLINDA

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P Name Ht. Avg. F Jill Trader 6-0 8.5 F Kate Ides 6-2 10.2 G Jackie Lord 5-6 10.0 G Jeri Costello 5-8 8.0 G Lindsey Davidson 5-9 14.9

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Coach: Jeff Sink