Redondo Union Makes Statement

Ofa Tulikihihifo scored 16 points Tuesday night to lead Redondo Union to an easy 83-30 victory over Tulare Western in the opening round of the Southern California regional of the girls’ state basketball tournament at Redondo Union.

Redondo Union (27-5), the Southern Section Division II-AA champion, scored the first 12 points and led, 20-9, at the end of the first quarter.

Redondo Union increased the lead to 39-15 by halftime.

Krisztina Fuleki scored 10 points, Jackie Packard had 12 and Jasmine Arjasbi scored 10 for Redondo Union.

In other games:

DIVISION II

Brea Olinda 57, Laguna Hills 39--The Ladycats went on a 20-2 run at the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth en route to the victory at Laguna Hills.

Jackie Lord scored 19 points and Chelsea Trotter had 15 points and five steals for Brea Olinda (25-6), which was coming off a defeat to Redondo Union in the Southern Section II-AA championship game.

Megan Aaker led Laguna Hills (18-14) with 18 points.

Santee Santana 70, Garden Grove Pacifica 63--Freshman Jaime Ransom scored 15 of her 23 points in the first quarter and the Sultans (27-5) held off a fourth-quarter charge by Pacifica for the victory at home.

Pacifica (23-8) cut a 13-point deficit to three with 1:52 left, but could get no closer.

DIVISION III

Torrance Bishop Montgomery 84, Selma 23--Lauren Ervin scored 16 points, Noelle Quinn had 15 and Tamara Quinn added 13 as the top-seeded Knights (23-6) won at Bishop Montgomery.

Selma finished 17-9.

Mission Hills Alemany 67, Wasco 56--Alemany (25-5) shot 54% at Wasco to give Coach Melissa Hearlihy her 350th victory.

Fullerton Rosary 66, San Diego University 42--Maggie Barnett scored 23 points to lead Rosary (23-10) to victory at home.

San Diego Kearny 63, Harvard-Westlake 58--Triola Alexander scored 33 points and Latasha Lewis added 14 for the Komets (17-13) in the victory at Kearny.

“You have to give Triola credit,” Harvard-Westlake Coach Brian Taylor said. “In the first half, she was really offensively minded. We did a better job in the second half, but we got down too far.”

In a rematch of last year’s first-round meeting, Harvard-Westlake was led by seniors LaTanya Robnett and Brooke Porter, who finished with 21 and 20 points, respectively.

However, Alexander and freshman guard Latasha Lewis, who scored 14 points, proved to be too much offensively.

DIVISION IV

La Jolla Bishop’s 53, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 38--Brianna Winn scored 19 points to lead top-seeded Bishop’s (26-1) at home.

Morro Bay 49, Taft 46--Leeane Jensen scored 15 points and Jaime Keyser had 10 for the victorious Pirates (17-7) at Taft.

Taft led, 38-30, midway through the third quarter but Morro Bay came back and took a three-point lead with eight seconds left on two free throws by Karena Bonds.

Taft’s Krystal Hagstrom’s three-point shot to tie fell short.

Cerritos Valley Christian 63, Garces 50--Susie Boogaard scored 23 points and Jamila Veasley had 18 points and 16 rebounds for Valley Christian (25-6), which took charge by outscoring Garces, 20-9, in the fourth quarter.

Playa del Rey St. Bernard 65, Coronado 22--Shannon Howell and Alexis Kendricks each scored 19 points to lead the second-seeded Vikings (25-5) to the victory at home.

Shannon Clay had 12 points and 11 rebounds for St. Bernard.

DIVISION V

Solana Beach Santa Fe Christian 62, Hemet Baptist Christian 39--Brandi Collato scored 28 points and Kelly Bull added 18 for the Eagles (27-5) in the victory at Santa Fe Christian.

Pilgrim 51, La Jolla Country Day 42--Amber Cunningham scored 20 points and Sharae Benitez scored 13 for the Patriots (28-2) in the victory at Murphy.