Laguna Hills Holds On for Victory, 41-40

Laguna Hills High opened up a 16-point lead and then withstood a fourth-quarter rally to defeat Newark Memorial, 41-40, in the CIF Division II state title game Friday night at the Pond of Anaheim.

“Like Tayyiba [Haneef] said, it’s a dream come true,” forward Whitney Houser said.

Houser finished with 11 rebounds. Haneef, a 6-foot-6 center, had 10 points, 17 rebounds and four blocked shots. Guard Tamara Inoue added 15 points, seven assists and four steals.

Those players had critical roles in building the lead that would help the Hawks join Brea Olinda, Irvine Woodbridge and Santa Ana Mater Dei as the only girls’ basketball state champions from Orange County.

The trio also played a major role when the game was decided in the final minute.

Newark Memorial (30-2) scored 22 points in the fourth quarter after scoring only 18 the first three. The Cougars’ run was sparked by its full-court press, and it wiped out Laguna Hills’ 31-15 lead with 43 seconds left in the third quarter.

Tied, 37-37, with 51 seconds remaining on Lee Esther Anderson’s steal and layup, Inoue converted two free throws with 41.5 seconds left to give the Hawks a 39-37 lead.

Haneef blocked a shot underneath the basket by Ami Forney (16 points) and grabbed the rebound. She got the ball to Inoue, who was fouled.

Inoue missed the free throw and Houser blocked Amber Donn’s three-point shot. The ball went to Inoue, who was fouled. She converted both free throws with 2.5 seconds left for a 41-37 lead, rendering useless Chrissy Gritzke’s three-point basket at the buzzer.

It was the 23rd consecutive victory for Laguna Hills (31-3).

Erin Larsen, the only junior starter, made a a 12-footer on the baseline with 2:49 left to give Laguna Hills a 37-33 lead. That it ended a 15-4 run by Newark Memorial and set the stage for the dramatic finish.

It was one of only three baskets that weren’t made by Houser, Haneef or Inoue.

Forney’s 21 rebounds broke the Division II championship game record for rebounds, set last year by Woodbridge’s Melanie Pearson (18).