League-Tested Millikan Holds Off Rosary, 55-53

The way Long Beach Millikan Coach Lorene Morgan figures it, playing in the Moore League -- even as third fiddle behind Long Beach Poly and Long Beach Wilson -- gives her team a distinct advantage.

“If we can do what we need to against those teams,” Morgan said, “it will carry over to almost anybody.”

That was the case Saturday at the Chino Hills Ayala Extravaganza, where the Rams, ranked No. 17 by The Times, pulled out a 55-53 victory over No. 9 Fullerton Rosary.

Both teams learned Friday they were playing each other after the schedule was changed at the last minute, matching representatives from probably the Southland’s two toughest leagues. Millikan (14-6) is in third place in the seven-team Moore League, and Rosary (18-4) is in first in the four-team Serra League. Each league has three teams ranked in The Times’ Top 25.

Cara Enright scored six of her 20 point in a 10-0 run at the end of the third quarter to give Rosary a 43-40 lead going into the fourth quarter.

The Rams answered with the help of Cassady Moore, who had a pair of steals and scored seven of her 11 points -- including a three-pointer that gave Millikan the lead for good at 47-45 -- in an 11-2 run.

The Rams stretched the lead to 55-48 before Rosary rallied, but the Royals hurt themselves in the final minute, allowing 16 seconds to elapse before committing a foul to stop the clock with 21 seconds left.

Brittany Dove led Millikan with 17 points and Trevonna Canon had 12 with 12 rebounds. Desiree Ekno scored 10 for Rosary.

In other games:

Riverside North 85, Bakersfield North 51 -- The intersectional showdown at Ayala was remarkably one-sided as No. 10 Riverside North (17-3) unleashed another outstanding defensive performance to defeat three-time defending Central Section champion Bakersfield North (19-5).

Danielle Harbor scored 20 for Riverside North, Leniece Areyab 13 and Amanda Decoud 12 with seven rebounds.

Torrance Bishop Montgomery 46, Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley 36 -- Bishop Montgomery (14-6), ranked No. 21, overcame an early deficit with an 18-4 run in the second quarter to win for the ninth time in 10 games. Roney Friend scored 13 points and Nykia Peace and Whitney Warren had 10 each. Heather Habekost scored eight for Capistrano Valley (13-8).

Santa Margarita 71, Lakewood Artesia 51 -- In a rematch of last season’s Division II-A final, the No. 18 Eagles (17-5) gained a small measure of revenge as Lauren Frazee scored a season-high 24 at Ayala.

Santa Ana Mater Dei 50, San Clemente 33 -- San Clemente, ranked No. 4 by The Times, was beaten by No. 12 Mater Dei in the lone girls’ game at the Nike Extravaganza at Loyola Marymount.

Mater Dei (12-8) was led by Christina Lopez with 15 points, Jen Rogers with 12 and Lauren Greer with 11. The Monarchs shot 42% from the field in the first half to open a 29-18 lead.

San Clemente (13-4) played without junior point guard Kirstin Commins, who strained her lower back in a soccer game Friday. Lindsey Pluimer led the Tritons with 19 points.

Brea Olinda 57, Orange Lutheran 42 -- Lauren Pedersen had 17 points and five steals and Carrie Noyes had 14 points, eight rebounds and three steals to lead No. 3 Brea Olinda (15-4) in a nonleague victory over visiting Orange Lutheran (14-6).