By Patrick McKinney
Exclusive to SoCalHoops

(Sacramento)--Brea Olinda represented the South in this matchup, coming in with a 31-3 record, featuring smooth guard Lindsey Davidson but missing a stud in 6’3 Jr Chelsea Trotter, who tore her ACL during the playoffs. She was forced into the role of cheerleader, but her teammates wouldn’t let her down. Amador Valley entered this contest with a 30-2 record and is led by last year’s State Freshman of the Year, Mia Fisher. The outcome was in doubt for much of the game and Fisher proved to be dominant force at times, but Brea simply had too much and took the State Champtionship, 54-51.

Brea Olinda offered this lineup:

Kate Ides, 6’2 Sr F
Jackie Lord, 5’7 So G
Lindsey Davidson, 5’10 Sr
Jeri Costello, 5’8 Sr G
Jill Trader, 6’ Jr F

Amador Valley started this five:

Vanessa Rogers, 5’6 Fr G
Mia Fisher, 5’10 So G
Melinda Pergrossi, 5’9 Jr F
Brittany Kernan, 6’ Jr F
Jaysie Chambers, 6’1 Sr C

Jaysie Chambers opened the scoring for Amador and Fisher scored to put Amador 4-0 with 5:40 to go in the first. Pergrossi added another bucket before Costello scored to put Brea on the board with 4:17 left. Armendariz found Ides inside, but Pergrossi answered on a nice assist from Fisher. Davidson found Trader for another Brea score and, on the next possession, Davidson scored on a fast break steal from Ides to tie it at 8 with 3:21 to go. Ides hit a free throw and Davidson found Costello to give Brea a 3 point lead. Chambers ended the quarter for Amador by going coast to coast and cutting Brea’s lead to 11-10.

The second quarter opened with Kate Ides picking up her 3rd foul in the first 15 seconds. From that point on, Amador took over. Fisher hit a couple of free throws and Chambers scored to give Amador a 14-11 lead. Davidson hit a bank shot and Fisher answered. Fisher then scored on a put back, 18-13 Amador, forcing Brea to take a timeout. Tara Hefferly hit a three for Brea out of the timeout, but Chambers was fouled and got two more free throws. Costello and Trader both scored, and it was tied at 20 with 3:27 left. Chambers got a free throw, Fisher scored, Chambers got two more free throws, Jessica Common scored, Rogers scored, and Tessa Winter hit a couple of free throws to end an 11-0 Amador run and send them to a 31-20 halftime lead.

At the half, Jaysie Chambers led all scorers with 11 and Mia Fisher added 10. Jeri Costello led Brea with 6. Brea also experienced some pretty serious foul trouble, as both Ides and Davidson had three fouls. Mia Fisher had three fouls for Amador Valley.

Both Ides and Davidson came out for the second half, but before a point was scored Ides was out with her fourth foul with 6:57 left in the third. Davidson picked up her fourth and went to the bench with 2:19 left. Fisher scored 12 straight points for Amador in the third, and Amador held on to its lead, ending the third quarter up 46-35.

Ides and Davidson again came out to start the fourth. Ides would leave with 6:29 to go, but Davidson stayed for the remainder, and played a pivotal role in the Ladycats’ dominating comeback. Amador got into some foul trouble of their own, but more on that in a minute. Jackie Lord started an 8-0 run to begin the fourth by hitting a three and then scoring off a baseball pass from Davidson. Davidson then hit a three and Brea had drawn to 46-43 with six minutes to play. Kernan broke the run with a free throw and Chambers put back her second missed shot. Davidson hit another three and Brea tightened their defense and shut down Amador, forcing several turnovers. Jerri Armendariz scored on a feed from Lord and the score was 49-48 with 4:11 to play. Brea took its first lead when Costello scored less than a minute later. Chambers then picked up her fifth foul and left with 2:52 to go. Costello hit one of the foul shots and Jessica Common answered by hitting one. On the next trip, Kernan hit a free throw to tie it at 51. Brea missed a shot and hustled for the rebound. Davidson grabbed it and served up a backhand scoop to Costello to put Brea up 53-51 with 39 seconds remaining. Kernan then fouled out, but Davidson missed the front end of a one and one. Amador had the ball with twenty seconds left, got it past half court, and called timeout with 15.8 to go. Fisher, shut out in the fourth quarter, drove baseline, but came up short. Costello got the rebound and delivered it to Davidson who hit one shot to put Brea up three. Tessa Winter caught glass on a desperation shot at the buzzer, but Brea escaped with a 54-51 victory.