Amat Struggles to Win

La Puente Bishop Amat’s third consecutive Southern Section Division III-A championship wasn’t artistic, but the 54-38 victory over Mission Hills Alemany does put the Lancers, who made only 22 of a school-record 49 free throws, in position to successfully defend their state title.

The Lancers, who committed 18 turnovers, should be the top-seeded team in the Southern California Regional Division III playoffs that begin next week.

Bishop Amat (31-1) won for the 66th time in 67 games. Candice Brown, 10 of 20 from the line, led the Lancers with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Bishop Amat almost shot better from the field, 40%, than the line, where it outscored Alemany (19-7) by 14 points. The Indians made six of eight free throws, but made only 14 of 54 shots from the field.

Lauren Ming had 20 points to lead Alemany, which never got closer than seven points after falling behind, 29-18, at halftime.

Brea Olinda 61, South Torrance 44 -- Brea Olinda’s season of futility ended much like its best seasons when the Ladycats won their 15th section title, taking the Division II-AA crown with a barrage of first-quarter three-point baskets, and by weathering a furious second-half rally at Long Beach State.

Key to the victory by fourth-seeded Brea (20-11) is that it didn’t rely on Jeanette Pohlen. She scored a game-high 20 points and had 17 rebounds, five assists and four steals, but Stephanie Servin scored 15 and Sarita Stamps 12 for the Ladycats, who took a 29-14 halftime lead.

Jenelle Peterson and Deja Shelton each scored 12 for South Torrance (25-7), which was in its first section final.

Newhall Hart 54, Canyon Country Canyon 37 -- Taylor Lilley’s half-court basket, with her team trailing as time expired in the first quarter against Foothill League-rival Canyon Country Canyon, ignited a 14-0 run that gave the Indians a 54-37 victory and the Division I-A title, their first since winning in 1989 and 1990.

Lilley finished with a game-high 19 points for fourth-seeded Hart (27-4) at Long Beach State Nicole Leon led Canyon (23-8) with 10 points.

Los Angeles Windward 53, Brentwood 45 -- Trailing by nine points and on the ropes in the third quarter, top-seeded Windward reeled off 16 consecutive points behind the play of Hailey Dunham to win its first title, the Division IV-A championship, at Long Beach State.

Dunham scored eight of her game-high 19 points in the third quarter as Windward (26-3) overcame a 32-23 deficit with 4:30 left in the third quarter.

-- Martin Henderson

Los Angeles Marlborough 63, Westlake Village Oaks Christian 58 -- Senior center Abi Olajuwon had 17 points and 12 rebounds and sophomore guard Nikki Speed had 17 points and seven rebounds as top-seeded Marlborough (24-3) won its fourth consecutive Division IV-AA title at Long Beach State.

Michelle Clark had a game-high 23 points, including five three-pointers, and Chelsea Carlisle had 22 points, including four three-pointers, for second-seeded Oaks Christian (21-9).

-- Austin Knoblauch