Brea Olinda dominates, wraps up league title
Brea Olinda’s Kim Cram-Torres survived her first regular season as coach of the Ladycats - and came out of it a league champion.
With the Century League title on the line, No. 2 Brea Olinda went on the road Thursday and dominated No. 5 Foothill, 71-44.
“Our goal is to always win the league championship,” Cram-Torres said. “There’s always pressure, but I always tell people, no one’s going to put more pressure on me than me."
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Each team came in with just one defeat since the third week of December. But the Ladycats (20-5, 11-1) demonstrated why they’re in their own class and headed to the CIF-SS Division IAA playoffs after a second victory this season against the Knights (21-5, 10-2).
The playoff pairings will be announced Sunday afternoon.
“This is an exceptional team,” Foothill coach Vince Namba said of the Ladycats. “There are not a lot of teams that are that physical, that are that deep from No. 1 to No. 7.”
Ladycats forward Keitra Wallace controlled the key on both ends of the floor and scored a game-high 24 points. Guard Taylor Spears had 10 points, and four other Ladycats scored at least six.
Brea Olinda was trailing, 11-8, when it went on a 16-0 run and never looked back.
“The effort was incredible,” Cram-Torres said. “They knew what was at stake. We talk a lot about their legacy. Our seniors in particular really wanted to close out league.”
Cram-Torres said the Ladycats won’t rest easy, however.
“We’re going to regroup,” Cram-Torres said. “Our goal is to battle for a CIF championship. That’s what Brea does.”
It also plays stellar defense. The Ladycats forced 20 turnovers, in large part because of its full-court press, while also neutralizing Foothill star Molly Greubel, who finished with 10 points. Forward Taylor Hirz had 13 points.
Namba said Brea Olinda is the best team Foothill has faced, or will face in the Division 2A playoffs.
“Not to take anybody lightly," he said, "but there’s a reason they’re in that Division IAA. Ultimately this is a team that will prepare us for CIF.
“Now we got the next season rolling around. We can’t let this game get to us. It’s one of those things that if we had won this game, I’d tell them the same thing: It doesn’t matter. We’re one and done now.”
Also in the Century League:
Esperanza 68, El Modena 28: Mariah Durian had 20 points and Kelly Burns had 16 as the Aztecs (13-13, 5-7)) beat the Vanguards (10-14, 0-12) to finish league play tied for fourth place with Villa Park. They will play a tiebreaker game Friday.
In the Sunset League:
No. 3 Edison 69, Los Alamitos 34: Geena Gomez had 21 points and three others scored in double figures as the Chargers (21-3, 9-1) beat the Griffins (17-9, 5-5).
