Woodbridge run ended by Inglewood

IRVINE - The Woodbridge girls' basketball season ended Thursday night, but you wouldn't have known it.

There were plenty of smiles and hugs to go around even after the Warriors lost to Inglewood, 62-55, in the semifinals of the CIF State Southern California Division III playoffs at Woodbridge.

"I was so proud of this team and what they accomplished this year," Woodbridge coach Eric Bangs said. "This has been such a great ride. They have nothing to be ashamed of."

Woodbridge (28-4) captured a CIF title and was just a few plays away from moving on to the Regionals final.

"Magic can happen sometimes," Bangs said. "They believed. If anything great is going to happen, it is going to be because of the players. And we had a lot of great happen this year."

Woodbridge nearly worked some magic late against Inglewood. The Warriors trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half, but battled back to make it a game in the fourth quarter.

The Warriors took a 50-48 lead on two free throws by Julie Walton. Another Walton free throw made it a 51-48 game.

But the Sentinels (18-16) answered with four consecutive points to go up, 54-51, and never trailed again.

After Woodbridge cut the deficit to one point on a jumper by Ashley Ward, Inglewood put the game away for good with some tough inside play.

The Sentinels grabbed three consecutive offensive rebounds after misses.

The final board was put back in by Noeline Touisoa. She was also fouled on the play and made the free throw to put her team up, 57-53 with 1:53 left.

Taylor Champion, who led Inglewood with 24 points, then knocked down a deep 3-pointer to give the Sentinels a 60-53 lead with 1:05 to go.

"We hung around and hung around," Bangs said. "But then she clinched the game with that shot. When she makes that, it is not your night."

Ward paced Woodbridge with 23 points. Walton finished with 13 points, and Sara McCutchan added 12 points.

Contact the writer: preps@ocregister.com