Ayala Able to Finish Off Upset

Perseverance paid off Saturday for Chino Hills Ayala in its Ayala Extravaganza. The Bulldogs could have given up against Fullerton Troy after falling behind by 11 points to the team ranked No. 4 by The Times.

But Ayala didn’t quit and the 19th-ranked Bulldogs scored a 58-55 victory over Troy in the final nonleague game before the playoffs begin.

“We were down a couple of times and it looked hopeless,” said Ayala Coach Mel Sims, whose team fell behind, 26-15, in the second quarter. “At this time of year, a win like this is critical.”

It should give Ayala (19-4) an idea of where it stands for the playoffs. For Troy (18-2), it’s the Warriors’ second loss this week after falling Monday to No. 3 San Clemente.

“If we don’t make free throws and rebound, we deserve to lose,” Troy Coach Kevin Kiernan said. “We won’t beat any good teams right now. We’re very soft.”

Ayala held a 32-28 rebounding advantage. They also made 18 of 35 (51.4%) from the field. Troy, which held a 43-38 lead after three quarters, had its chances but made only four of 11 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Alicia Komaki led Troy with 14 points, Nicole Hayman had 12 and Amanda Livingston 10.

But it was the play of Chandi Gilling that put Ayala over the top. Averaging eight points, Gilling scored 14, making seven of nine from the field, and was the perfect complement to the inside play of Kia Riley (18 points) and outside play of Brittany Sieger (12).

Artesia 70, Pasadena Muir 62--In a rematch of last season’s Division II-A final and a showdown between two of the best post players in the Southland, No. 6 Artesia used guard play to yield the same result.

Tennessee-bound 6-foot-4 Tye’sha Fluker of No. 18 Muir (18-4) won the personal battle with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Lauren Ervin, a 6-3 junior, had 15 points and six rebounds for Artesia (15-5).

Artesia’s Christian Jackson scored 18 to lead Artesia. Brittany Thomas had 13, and Lindsay Thomas and Brittany Imaku scored 10 apiece.

Martin Henderson

*

Brea Olinda 47, Santa Ana Mater Dei 36--Carrie Noyes had 16 points and 11 rebounds, seven offensive, to lead No. 8 Brea in a nonleague victory at Mater Dei.

The 23rd-ranked Monarchs (19-4) rallied from a 21-15 halftime deficit to close to within two with 3:16 left in the third quarter. Mater Dei held Brea Olinda to five second-quarter points.

The LadyCats’ defense took over late in the third, and Brea Olinda (14-6) ended the quarter on a 9-4 run when Lauren Pederson scored seven of her nine points.

Mater Dei’s Amy Sanders, who leads the Monarchs with 15 points a game, was held to six points. The LadyCats also forced 16 turnovers. Jessica Williams led Mater Dei with 11 points and Ashley Voisnet added six.

Melanie Neff

*

Harbor City Narbonne 48, Ventura Buena 35--The No. 2 Gauchos were in danger of losing their first home game since 1996 before outscoring No. 16 Buena, 19-4, during the last five minutes of an intersectional game.

Wilnett Crockett and Lisa Willis each had six points during the run for Narbonne, which overcame a dismal performance, making 18 of 63 shots, 10 of 28 free throws and committing 20 turnovers.

The Gauchos (17-3) rotated several players on Courtney LaVere, Buena’s 6-3 center who is bound for Notre Dame. LaVere made two of 18 shots and finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, four blocked shots and three steals.

Amy Glassman added 10 points for Buena (13-7), the state’s winningest program, which had never lost seven games in a season.

Dave Desmond