Troy Steps to the Line, Holds Off Norco, 69-63

When it mattered most, in the last two minutes, Fullerton Troy showed why it is the top-seeded girls’ basketball team in the Southern Section Division II-AA playoffs.

It showed why it is a defending section champion. It showed why it’s important to practice free throws.

Holding a one-point lead and reeling from Norco and its outstanding freshman, Erika Arriaran, Troy converted nine of 12 free-throws and held on to beat the unseeded Cougars, 69-63, in a semifinal game before a capacity crowd at La Habra High.

A furious rally by Norco (22-8)--Arriaran scored 13 of her 21 points in the fourth quarter after making only one of her first 11 shots against the defense of Gabrielle Spence--cut a 54-44 third-quarter lead to 60-59 with 2 minutes 25 seconds remaining.

But Troy (27-2), which made only two of eight from the field in the fourth quarter despite shooting 45% in the first three, finally took a deep breath and made its free throws, including eight of nine in the final 1:29.

Meghan McGuire, a sophomore who finished with 19 points, made six of seven free throws, including four in a row in the final 17 seconds with Troy holding a tenuous 65-63 advantage.

“They’re one of the best teams in the division right now, and Erika is at full strength,” said Troy Coach Kevin Kiernan, alluding to the Warriors’ 69-55 victory over Norco on Dec. 28, when Arriaran was nursing a foot injury.

“I told the girls at halftime [with a 32-27 lead] this would be a character check in the second half, that we weren’t going to beat this team by 30. We haven’t had many of those character checks this season.”

Pepperdine-bound Alicia Komaki led Troy, last season’s Division I-A champion, with 20 points, and junior Amanda Livingston finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds.

Charmaine Utz and Kimberly Smith scored 12 each for Norco, which led only once, 14-12.

Martin Henderson

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Ventura 51, Irvine Wood-bridge 45--The Cougars withstood a fourth-quarter rally to win a Division II-AA semifinal at Ventura Buena and advanced to its first section final since 1993.

Third-seeded Woodbridge (26-4) cut an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to 49-45 in the final minute, but Jenni Dooley of Ventura stole the ball from Lindsey Yocum with nine seconds to play and Katy O’Brien made two free throws with five seconds left to seal it.

Dooley, who scored 22 points, made three three-pointers, giving her 101 this season and 223 in her career. Caitlin O’Neill scored 13 and O’Brien added 12.

The Cougars (27-2), who made seven three-pointers, have 258 three-pointers this season and 492 in two seasons under Coach Ann Larson.

Yocum scored 14, all in the second half, and Michelle Sanford added 11 for Woodbridge, which fell in the semifinals for the second consecutive season.

Ventura plays Troy for the division title next weekend.

Dave Desmond

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Long Beach Wilson 47, Anaheim Esperanza 40--Brandi Knight had 14 points and Tessa Petrick had 11 rebounds for Long Beach Wilson (26-5) in a Division I-AA quarterfinal at Esperanza. The Aztecs, seeded fourth, finish at 23-5.

Chino Hills Ayala 59, Rialto Eisenhower 54--Kia Riley had 18 points and nine rebounds and Brittany Sieger had 16 points and seven rebounds for third-seeded Chino Hills Ayala in a Division I-AA quarterfinal at Ayala.

The Bulldogs (26-4) held an 11-point lead with four minutes remaining in the game, but Eisenhower connected on a couple of three-point baskets to close to within five points. The Eagles (25-4) would get to within three points before Ayala put the game away at the free-throw line.

San Clemente 69, Corona 45--Lindsey Pluimer had 24 points and 12 rebounds, Sara Brown had 16 points and seven rebounds and Kim Buffum had 15 points and five assists to lead top-seeded San Clemente (25-3), in a Division I-A quarterfinal at Norco High. Lyneia Gipson had 12 points for Corona (21-8).

Newhall Hart 68, Riverside North 59--Brandi Kimble had 21 points and eight rebounds for third-seeded Hart (25-4) in a Division I-A quarterfinal. The Indians will play Westminster, a 58-34 winner over Chino, in a semifinal on Tuesday.

North Torrance 43, Brea Olinda 40--Traci Elliott had 15 points, including two free throws with eight seconds left, to clinch the victory for fourth-seeded North Torrance (24-6) in a Division II-A semifinal at Peninsula. Carrie Noyes scored 16 points for top-seeded Brea Olinda (21-7), which trailed 23-18 at halftime.

Redondo 65, Santa Margarita 55--Allison Bretana had 20 points for the Sea Hawks (22-7) in a Division II-A semifinal at Trabuco Hills High. Julia Pederson had 18 points for second-seeded Santa Margarita (24-5), which was outscored, 24-18, in the fourth quarter.

Santa Fe Springs St. Paul 53, Cerritos Valley Christian 51-- Crystal Erwin had 25 points and 15 rebounds to lead St. Paul (23-7) to the Division IV-AA quarterfinal victory over third-seeded and host Cerritos Valley Christian (23-6), which missed a last-second shot. Susie Boogaard led Cerritos Valley Christian with 34 points. St. Paul plays Santa Ana Calvary Chapel, a 55-47 winner over Oak Park, in a semifinal on Tuesday.