Local Teams Square Off in Playoffs

Three all-county matchups highlight tonight’s boys’ basketball games.

El Dorado plays at Marina in what should be a thrilling Division I-A third-round game. The Vikings (24-3) were ranked No. 6 in the final Orange County Sportswriters’ Poll and the Golden Hawks (24-3) were No. 9.

In Division II-AA, Brea Olinda (21-6) hosts Newport Harbor (18-8) in a second-round matchup of two teams ranked for much of the season. The Wildcats finished the regular season tied with Woodbridge at No. 10.

Pacifica (13-14), a team much stronger than its record, plays at Laguna Hills (16-10) in Division II-A second-round game. Both teams are disciplined and play tenacious defense.

On the girls’ side Wednesday, Valencia (23-3) is at Sonora (18-9) in Division II-AA might be the night’s best. High-scoring Michelle Pietka and Monika Jackley of Valencia will take on ultra-quick Brandi Davis and 6-foot-4 Mindy Clark in the second round. The other all-county matchup has visiting Woodbridge, at fourth-seeded San Clemente in a Division I-A game.

FREE (FORM) THROWS

Liz Medina looked like she had a paralyzed left arm almost every time she lined up for a free throw this season, but no one could accuse the sophomore at Dana Hills of lacking style.

Medina shot her free throws one-handed, never touching the ball with her left hand. She used to shoot free throws by pushing the ball from her chest with both hands.

“I wanted her to get some arch on the ball, so we practiced with her holding her left hand behind her back and getting her right hand up in the air,” said Yvonne Sturgeon, Dana Hills’ first-year head coach. “Then I tried to get her to add her left hand to the motion, and she said, ‘Sturgeon, whenever I put my left hand up there, it messes me up.’ ”

The proof came during an eight-day period last month, when Medina tried to conform to the rest of the shooting world. Over four games, she went two for eight shooting two-handed. Shooting one-handed, she made 29 of 39 free throws (74.3%). Over the course of the season, she shot 66%.

As a team, Dana Hills shot 56% from the free-throw line.

THE FIRST STEP

Santa Ana Valley won the first girls’ basketball playoff game in school history, beating San Gorgonio, 63-47, in the first round of the Division I-AA playoffs last week.

Obviously, first-year coach Nicole Quinn saw the advantages, despite having to play top-seeded Chino Hills Ayala in the second round and losing, 76-42.

“We start two sophomores, two juniors, a senior, and my sixth man is a sophomore, so school-wide, it’s a big thing,” Quinn said. “It’s a chance to build the program.”

Valley finished 18-8.

Staff writer Martin Henderson contributed to this report.

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