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  • Kennedy fans try to distract Cypress' Haley Morikawa as she...

    Kennedy fans try to distract Cypress' Haley Morikawa as she shoots free throws late in Tuesday's game. Cypress won, 41-37.

  • Cypress' Aggie Manu forces a turnover by Kennedy's Juanita Nolosco...

    Cypress' Aggie Manu forces a turnover by Kennedy's Juanita Nolosco during the Centurions' 41-37 win.

  • Kennedy's Ariana Conant keeps the ball away from Cypress' Aggie...

    Kennedy's Ariana Conant keeps the ball away from Cypress' Aggie Manu during the Fighting Irish's 41-37 loss Tuesday night.

  • Kennedy fans cheer for their team during Tuesday's league game...

    Kennedy fans cheer for their team during Tuesday's league game against Cypress.

  • Kennedy's Jillori Grepo, left, looks to steal a rebound from...

    Kennedy's Jillori Grepo, left, looks to steal a rebound from Cypress' Aggie Manu during Tuesday's game.

  • Kennedy's Keiley Kuwahara tries to get past Cypress' Aggie Manu...

    Kennedy's Keiley Kuwahara tries to get past Cypress' Aggie Manu on a drive to the basket during the Fighting Irish's 41-37 loss Tuesday night.

  • Cypress' Haley Morikawa passes the ball past Kennedy's Sarah Ito...

    Cypress' Haley Morikawa passes the ball past Kennedy's Sarah Ito during Tuesday's game.

  • Kennedy's Ariana Conant shoots over Cypress' Aggie Manu and Haley...

    Kennedy's Ariana Conant shoots over Cypress' Aggie Manu and Haley Morikawa during the Fighting Irish's 41-37 loss on Tuesday.

  • Cypress coach Nathaniel Rivera calls a play from the sideline...

    Cypress coach Nathaniel Rivera calls a play from the sideline during the Centurions' 41-37 victory over Kennedy on Tuesday.

  • The Cypress bench celebrates a late free throw by Justina...

    The Cypress bench celebrates a late free throw by Justina Yoo to seal the Centurions' 41-37 victory over Kennedy High on Tuesday night.

  • Kennedy coach Roland Preciado gestures to his players during the...

    Kennedy coach Roland Preciado gestures to his players during the Centurions' 41-37 victory over Kennedy on Tuesday night.

  • Cypress fans celebrate during the Centurions' 41-37 victory over Kennedy...

    Cypress fans celebrate during the Centurions' 41-37 victory over Kennedy on Tuesday night.

  • Cypress' Jenna Park, left, and Emma Austria try to stop...

    Cypress' Jenna Park, left, and Emma Austria try to stop Kennedy's Camryn Hamaguchi during the Centurions' 41-37 victory over Kennedy on Tuesday night.

  • Cypress' Kaitlin Matsuguma nails a three-pointer past Kennedy's Katelyn Bomar...

    Cypress' Kaitlin Matsuguma nails a three-pointer past Kennedy's Katelyn Bomar during the Centurions' 41-37 victory over Kennedy on Tuesday night.

  • Cypress' Justina Yoo, left, and Alison Nelson try and stop...

    Cypress' Justina Yoo, left, and Alison Nelson try and stop Kennedy's Camryn Hamaguchi during the Centurions' 41-37 victory over Kennedy on Tuesday night.

  • Cypress' Justina Yoo drives down the court chased by Kennedy's...

    Cypress' Justina Yoo drives down the court chased by Kennedy's Hallie Kaichi during the Centurions' 41-37 victory over Kennedy High on Tuesday night.

  • Cypress' Haley Morikawa drives past Kennedy's Kaitlin Matsuguma during the...

    Cypress' Haley Morikawa drives past Kennedy's Kaitlin Matsuguma during the Centurions' 41-37 victory over Kennedy High on Tuesday night.

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Associate mug of Kenny Connolly, Anaheim reporter.

Date shot: 12/31/2012 . Photo by KATE LUCAS /  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Kennedy High’s gym has been a house of horrors for Cypress’ girls basketball team, which hadn’t won a game on the Fighting Irish’s floor since 2009.

Cypress made sure that streak came to an end Tuesday night.

Senior forward Justina Yoo scored 11 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter, which included a clutch pair of late free throws that provided the decisive blow in the Centurions’ 41-37 victory in a critical Empire League showdown.

“I haven’t won a game here ever since I started coaching at Cypress,” Centurions coach Nathaniel Rivera said. “This is the first time, so I thanked the girls after the game. It’s a tough place to play at. Hopefully it will propel us to play much better down the road.”

In the first three quarters of play, neither Cypress (14-7, 5-0) nor Kennedy (15-6, 4-1) led by more than four points, and the teams traded the lead on six occasions.

With the score tied at 30 two minutes into the fourth, Yoo scored five consecutive points, sinking a pair of free throws and drilling her lone 3-pointer of the game, to put Cypress ahead, 35-30.

Kennedy’s Kaitlin Matsuguma added to the drama with 30 seconds remaining by banking home an NBA-range 3-pointer that cut Cypress’ lead to 39-37.

After Cypress missed three consecutive free throws on the ensuing two possessions, Yoo buried a pair with 3.4 seconds to play.

“She’s probably one of the steadiest players that we have,” Rivera said. “She doesn’t know it because she barely started playing (the game) here at Cypress as a freshman. She studies all the time, asks questions all the time, but that’s what you want from a player.”

In the Crestview League:

No. 2 Brea Olinda 54, No. 10 Foothill 45: Reili Richardson scored 21 points and Tyiona Watkins added 16 as the Ladycats (17-2, 3-0) won their 11th consecutive game against the host Knights (16-5, 2-1). Sydney Sharp finished with 17 points for Foothill, and Jasmine Rachal scored 10 for Brea.

In the Pacific Coast League:

Woodbridge 47, Beckman 39: Junior forward Lauren Baffo led all scorers with 22 points and pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds as the Warriors (15-5, 4-1) knocked off the visiting Patriots (13-9, 3-2).

In the Academy League:

Oxford Academy 58, Sage Hill 54: Behind freshman Austyn Masuno’s 28 points, the Patriots (16-3, 6-0) overcame a fourth-quarter deficit and solidified sole possession of first place in league with their win over the visiting Lightning (12-6, 5-2). Sage Hill’s Heather Park led all scorers with 32 points.

Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com