Brea Attempts to Continue Its Dominance

Brea Olinda will attempt to win its third consecutive title and Palisades, North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel and Palos Verdes Chadwick will try to win their first in the girls’ state basketball finals Friday and Saturday at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

Last season, Southland teams won three of the five divisions. Palisades and Santa Ana Calvary Chapel have already enjoyed historic seasons, winning their first City Section and Southern Section IV-A titles, respectively.

Here is a look at each of the division championship games:

* DIVISION I--Palisades (29-4) vs. San Jose Archbishop Mitty (30-0), Saturday, 6 p.m.: Palisades is making its first appearance in a state final. The Dolphins cruised to the City Section championship, came back to defeat San Clemente in their regional opener then beat Oceanside El Camino and Palos Verdes Peninsula to advance to Sacramento.

Co-Coaches Joi Tanita and Kevin Hall have a team led by senior forward Nicole Funn and point guard Leilani Estavan, both of whom will attend Oregon State. Funn is an effective scorer inside and from the perimeter. Estavan is especially tough from three-point range. Junior guard April Freeney is outstanding in the open court and teams with Estavan to form a quick backcourt.

The biggest question Palisades faced when the state playoffs began was how the Dolphins would fare in a close game after so many blowouts during its City schedule. Palisades showed its mettle against San Clemente and especially against Peninsula.

Now the Dolphins face an unbeaten team from a school that won the Division III state title in 1995 and made it to the finals in ’94 and ’96. Mitty is led by Rometra Craig, daughter of former San Francisco 49er running back Roger Craig. She scored 21 points and had 13 rebounds in a 61-53 regional final victory over 1998 runner-up Berkeley. Mitty shot 39 free throws in the final and made only 22. Palisades also beat Berkeley in January, 71-66.

* DIVISION II--Brea Olinda (31-3) vs. Pleasanton Amador Valley (30-2), Friday, 6:15 p.m.: Brea Olinda would be a heavy favorite if the defending champion Ladycats were at full strength. But with junior center Chelsea Trotter out because of a knee injury, Brea Olinda showed its vulnerability--and depth--in a regional final victory over Fresno Edison.

Reserves Jill Trader and Jerri Armendariz combined with guard Lindsey Davidson and other experienced Brea players to help the seven-time state champion Ladycats advance to their eighth appearance in the finals. Brea won Division III titles in 1989, ’92 and ’94. It won Division II titles in 1991, ‘93, ’97 and ’98.

Amador Valley is led by Mia Fisher and Jaysie Chambers. Fisher made 11 of 15 shots and finished with 22 points in a 63-41 regional final victory against Cupertino Homestead. Chambers had 15 points and 17 rebounds.

* DIVISION III--North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake (24-9) vs. Lafayette Acalanes (29-4), Saturday, 12:45 p.m.: Omelogo Udeze, at 6 feet 2, and Rolake Bamgbose, at 6-1, are the top players for Harvard-Westlake, coached by former ABA and NBA player Brian Taylor. Harvard-Westlake was the Southern Section III-A runner-up behind Inglewood Morningside and was the fifth-seeded team in the Southern California regional. The Wolverines defeated San Diego Kearny, Wasco and top-seeded Fullerton Rosary en route to the championship game.

The Wolverines are regarded as a favorite against Acalanes, which is in the final for the second time in three years. The Dons advanced with a 37-22 victory over top-seeded Loomis Del Oro despite going scoreless for 14:37, including the entire second quarter. Acalanes made only 14 of 30 free throws. Corrie Mizusawa scored 12 points for the Dons.

* DIVISION IV--Santa Ana Calvary Chapel (28-5) vs. Atherton Sacred Heart Prep (29-6), Saturday, 9:15 a.m.: Calvary Chapel won its first Southern Section IV-A title and has its sights set on its first state championship.

Cathy Joens leads a team that beat San Diego Horizon, Morro Bay and the Bishop’s School to advance to the championship game.

Sacred Heart Prep has won four state titles. Ashley Halstead leads Sacred Heart Prep, a 47-36 winner over Stockton St. Mary’s in the regional final. Halstead scored 20 points, and Courtney Laird had 12 points and 12 rebounds in the victory.

* DIVISION V--Palos Verdes Chadwick (29-5) vs. Los Altos Hills Pinewood (30-1), Friday, 2:30 p.m.: Erin Gilliland and Dianne Webber lead Chadwick, which beat Apple Valley, Solano Beach Santa Fe Christian and San Luis Obispo Mission Prep to advance to its first state final.

Gilliland scored 25 points against Santa Fe Christian and 18 against Mission Prep.

Pinewood is also in its first state final. Guard Lauren Smith-Hams scored 27 points and sophomore Sebnem Kimyacioglu had 17 in Pinewood’s 74-43 regional final victory over Ross Branson.