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Associate mug of Kenny Connolly, Anaheim reporter.

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

Time drags when you’re not winning.

Two weeks had passed since Fairmont Prep’s last game. Thirty days marked the last time the Huskies walked off the court with a “W.”

Behind junior forward Cierra Hall’s game-high 17-point showing, Fairmont Prep returned to the court Wednesday night and eased past Serra of San Diego, 56-34, in the opening round of the CIF Southern California Division II Regional Championships.

No. 4 Fairmont Prep (20-9) will host fifth-seeded Ventura in the second round Saturday.

“It feels like it’s been a year,” Coach Dave Esparza said of Fairmont’s last win. “We knew the Open Division was going to be a battle. So it was good getting back to playing our style of basketball.”

The Huskies held the visiting Conquistadors (20-10) to 11 points in the first half, swarming Serra’s up-tempo attack and forcing it to shoot just 3-of-21 from the floor in the first 16 minutes of play.

Fairmont Prep led, 28-11, at the intermission, and extended that lead to a high of 27 points in the second half.

“It felt great, especially being able to get the win at home,” said Hall, who scored nine of her 17 points in the third quarter. “We definitely needed this to boost our morale going into state.”

If the Huskies can navigate their way past Ventura on Saturday, they could see Mater Dei in the regional semifinals.

Ventura (23-9) has won six in a row, including the Southern Section 1AA title game.

Also in Division 2:

Mater Dei 77, Middle College 37: Senior forward Ally Rosenblum led the Monarchs with 21 points in a first-round blowout. The win was Mater Dei’s first in a month.

Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com