Brea Olinda Stands Tall Again

Brea Olinda won its 12th Southern Section title in 13 seasons on Friday, but few have ever been so difficult.

Or so frustrating.

The top-seeded Ladycats, who played without their best player for the second consecutive game, hung on to defeat second-seeded North Torrance, 56-54, and win the Division II-AA title at the Pyramid in Long Beach.

The Ladycats (26-4) won a game in which 50 fouls were called, and in which they squandered a nine-point lead to fall behind in the fourth quarter.

“I just told the kids that the school has won 12 titles, and this may be the one that they talk about in years to come,” Brea Coach Jeff Sink said. “It’s improbable--young kids, no height, lack of experience, injuries. . . . “

Senior guard Jackie Lord missed the last two games, and junior Daveri Bonnewitz, one of Brea’s top three players, missed the playoffs.

Three freshmen saw appreciable court time, and two, Lauren Pedersen and Carrie Noyes, played crucial roles in the fourth quarter.

And Brea didn’t have a starter taller than 6 feet.

Yet the Ladycats won, as sophomore Jennifer Katsuyama scored 11 points and Noyes scored 10, including two free throws with 36 seconds left to give Brea a 55-51 advantage.

Their effort overshadowed that of Orchid Ryan, who scored a game-high 24 for North Torrance (27-5).

North Torrance made 24 of 34 free throws, and normally reliable Brea made only 13 of 26.

Both schools begin play in the Southern California Regional on Tuesday.

Brea’s quickness has been an advantage this season, despite its lack of height. But against North Torrance, Brea didn’t have a significant advantage in speed, and certainly didn’t have a height advantage.

But the Ladycats did have Pedersen, whose three-point basket from the baseline with 3:04 remaining gave Brea a 51-47 lead. Less than two minutes earlier, Brea had taken the lead, 48-47, on two free throws by Kelly Agrelius.

“That [three-point basket] was the one that really hurt us,” said North Torrance Coach Gary Duperron. “They were making turnovers, and we had some momentum.”

Ryan answered with a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 51-49, but Noyes--who was being substituted into the game for offense and taken out for defense because she had four fouls--scored on a rebound for a 53-49 lead. Her shot went in as the shot clock expired, after Tara Hefferly had missed the rim on a three-pointer. Like the three-point shot by Pedersen, Noyes’ was a dagger to the Saxons.

Brea had a 46-37 lead going into the fourth quarter. But the flurry of fouls kept North Torrance in the game. The Saxons caught up by making eight consecutive free throws, and then getting a steal and layup by Ryan with 5:09 left in the game.

They led for 12 seconds. That’s when Agrelius converted a pair of free throws to re-take the lead, one that Brea wouldn’t give back.

Agrelius, a junior who scored six points, wasn’t the only unlikely Ladycat to play a pivotal role. Jenny Skrifvars, a junior forward, scored eight points, including a three-pointer in the opening minutes of the third quarter, the only other time North Torrance took the lead, 31-30.

Katsuyama, a sophomore, had six assists. Her free throw ended Brea’s scoring, providing a 56-52 margin with 13 seconds left.

Pedersen, starting in place of Lord, fouled out, but not before scoring nine points and having four assists.

“It’s gratifying,” said Hefferly, who has been in uniform for three of Brea’s titles and scored eight against the Saxons.

Said Sink: “It’s an amazing CIF title.”