(Pomona) – Turnovers and poor shot selection in the second half for Diamond Ranch turned a seven-point lead into a CIF-SS Division 2A semi-finals loss to Woodbridge, 42-34.
It was the second straight season that the Warriors would end the Panthers playoff drive.
Diamond Ranch (26-3) appeared to be on their way to their first CIF Championship game since being crowned champs in 2005-06, that was until Woodbridge senior forward Ashley Ward took the game over with in the third quarter.
The games leading scorer with 23 points, Ward went five of six from the field in the third quarter to help spur the Warrior’s comeback.
The Panthers helped Woodbridge (27-5) get back in the game after the first half when they failed to find any offense in the third stanza. Too many turnovers in an attempt to force passes into center Janelle Kearney saw Diamond Ranch shoot just two for three from the field and watched their lead dwindle to a one-point deficit.
Woodbridge would go 10 minutes without a field goal, which saw the Warriors miss fourteen straight attempts as they went 0 for 11 in the second quarter. The drought would end when Ward penetrated the defense to score a bucket.
An 11-2 run during the final three minutes helped the Warriors put the final dagger in the hopes of Panther fans. It was also the last time that Diamond Ranch would lead when Kearney got loose for a three-foot jumper to give Diamond Ranch an 32-31 lead.
It was the last lead they would as the Panthers failed to stop two straight backdoor scores from freshman guard Sarah Lipton and Ward was able to get a three-point play to put the game on ice for the Warriors.
Kearney finished the evening as Diamond Ranch’s leading scorer with 10 points.
For the Panthers all is not completely lost as they head back to practice as they get ready to make a run in the State Championship playoffs that begin on Tuesday.
WOODBRIDGE 12 3 12 15 42
DIAMOND RANCH 15 6 5 8 34
Game at Ganesha High School
WOODBRIDGE: Ashley Ward 23, Sarah Lipton 8, Sarah McCutchan 6, Erin Beadle 5
DIAMOND RANCH: Janelle Kearney 10, Chelsea Barnes 8, Erika Williams 8, Erica Greer 4, Ariana Caffey 4
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