CIF-SS girls basketball semifinals previews: Tuesday's games
TODAY'S CIF-SS GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
DIVISION 1AA
SANTIAGO (27-2) OF CORONA VS. TROY (25-3)
Site, time: La Habra High, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Troy and Santiago met in a nonleague contest at Troy on Jan. 12 and the Sharks defeated the Warriors, 65-57. The second-seeded Warriors, the Freeway League champions, are trying to get back to the championship for the second time in three years. The third-seeded Sharks, the Big VIII League champions, are trying to get back to the championship for the first time since 2010, when they were defeated by Long Beach Poly in the Division 1AA championship game. The Warriors are spearheaded by Oregon State-bound Gabriella Hanson, Stanford-bound Briana Roberson and Denver-bound Alecia Dimas, all important players on Troy's team that reached the Division 1A championship in 2011. Freshman point guard Barbara Sitanggan has developed much quicker than anticipated and has become a key contributor for the Warriors. Santiago's Monique Billings, a 6-foot-3 center, is one of the top junior recruits in the nation. Oregon-bound Chrishae Rowe is the Sharks' leader.
ORANGE LUTHERAN (24-5) VS. CULVER CITY (23-5)
Site, time: Culver City High, 7 p.m.
Outlook: The top-seeded Lancers, the third-place representatives from the Trinity League, are trying to get back to the championship for third time in five years. Orange Lutheran captured the Division 3A championship in 2011. The Lancers have a veteran team that is balanced and contains several players who can step up in clutch situations. Jessica Salottolo, Abbey Goodsell and Sydney Jacobs are Orange Lutheran's leaders. The fourth-seeded Centaurs, the Ocean League champions, are trying to get back to the championship for the first time since 1999.
CARLOS ARIAS
