FULLERTON – Even during the pregame layup lines, you got the impression Troy guard Barbara Sitanggan was oozing with genuine excitement.
Sure, the sophomore may have been amped knowing that the state playoffs were under way.
Snapping the Warriors’ two-game losing streak probably had something to do with it as well.
More than anything, though, Sitanggan was pumped that she was finally back on the court at full strength.
After playing through walking pneumonia in Tory’s two Open Division playoff contests, a healthy Sitanggan scored a team-high 20 points to help thje Warriors cruise past Mt. Carmel of San Diego, 53-37, in the first round of the CIF Southern California Division 1 Regional playoffs on Wednesday night at Troy.
“I felt like myself again,” Sitanggan said. “It feels like I could finally help my team win now that I’m back at 100 percent.”
With the victory, the fourth-seeded Warriors (23-7) advance to the second round of the regionals where they will take on No. 12 Camarillo (28-4). Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Saturday at Troy.
“Finally we’re healthy to where we can go up and down the court and not run out of gas halfway through the third,” said Warriors coach Roger Anderson. “We have to come out with energy and then be able to play consistently.”
After a week and a half layoff, Troy looked to be the fresher team from the opening tip. The Warriors outhustled the Sundevils on offense, and their patented full-court press clearly frustrated San Diego’s Division 1 runners-up when they possessed the ball.
Mt. Carmel shot 4 of 22 from the floor in the first half and turned the ball over eight times. Ali Engelhardt, the squad’s scoring leader with 24 per outing, only knocked down two of her 10 shots in the opening half for five points.
Sitanggan led all scorers with 15 at the break, as the Warriors jumped out to a 29-10 lead.
“Big difference with Barb,” Anderson said. “She keeps us going. She’s very good at her assist-to-turnover ratio, and she’s very good at hitting the gaps. Just a special player.”
The Warriors led by as many as 28 points in the second half. Mt. Carmel scored in single digits through the first three quarters before scoring 18 in the fourth.