Division II Girls

Pleasanton Amador Valley vs. Brea Olinda

Where--Arco Arena, Sacramento, 6:15 tonight

Amador Valley (30-2)--Defense fuels the physical, athletic Dons, who can pressure from baseline to baseline or trap opponents in the halfcourt. Like Brea, they prefer an up-tempo style and often score in transition. They average 15 steals, and rely on the strength of their defense--forcing turnovers and winning the battle on the boards. They can’t afford to let Brea have second and third chances to score, and they benefit greatly from the absence of Brea’s 6-3 center, Chelsea Trotter (knee). Only 37% shooters from the field, they will also need to hit the boards offensively. Amador Valley has depth, but not where Mia Fischer (18.9 points, 3.7 assists, 3.2 steals) and Jaysie Chambers (15.8 points, 10 rebounds, 3.3 steals, 3.1 blocks) are concerned. Those two can’t afford foul trouble, and any game called tightly by the officials will put Brea at an advantage. Amador Valley shot only 57% from the free-throw line, but made seven of eight in a 63-41 victory over Cupertino Homestead in the Northern California finals. The Dons’ only losses were to state power Berkeley.

Brea Olinda (31-3)--The Ladycats beat the state’s second-ranked team in the division, Fresno Edison, 69-65, in the Southern California final without Trotter. Her injury sends Brea to the finals for perhaps the first time without being a definite favorite. However, the Ladycats should be better after having a week to practice without Trotter. The victory over Edison also boosted Brea’s confidence all the way down its bench, since 11 players contributed. In Trotter’s absence, Jill Trader scored 17 in her first career start. The Ladycats are unlikely to change much, using a high-pressure defense to force turnovers and create easy scoring opportunities, but may drop back at times to avoid foul trouble. Guards Lindsey Davidson, Jackie Lord and Jerri Armendariz must be efficient ballhandlers against Amador Valley’s pressure; the trio has faced such pressure previously as the Ladycats played a tough schedule. Brea must shoot well, and it has shot 51% in its last two arena games.

Key to the game--The teams are similar, and the one that is best able to handle the opposition’s defensive pressure probably holds the key to success. It’s easy to call this a Davidson-Ides vs. Fischer-Chambers matchup, but the effectiveness of role players probably determines the outcome.

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Starting Lineups

AMADOR VALLEY

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P Name Ht. Avg. F Melinda Pergrossi 5-9 3.4 F Brittany Kernan 6-0 5.5 C Jaysie Chambers 6-1 15.8 G Vanessa Rogers 5-6 6.2 G Mia Fischer 5-10 18.9

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Coach: Elizabeth Stanley

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 7.0 G Lindsey Davidson 5-9 14.7

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Coach: Jeff Sink