WOMEN’S JUNIOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : Canyons Goes Stone Cold in Final Minutes, Falls to Merritt

COSTA MESA — College of the Canyons’ failure to score late in either half proved costly as the Cougars lost to Merritt, 94-88, in the quarterfinals of the junior college women’s state tournament Thursday at Orange Coast College.

Carlisa Hamagaki made two free throws with 2 minutes 37 seconds to play to put Canyons ahead, 87-85.

But the Cougars missed two open layups and scored only one point the rest of the way.

Merritt, the No. 1-ranked team in the state, took the lead, 88-87, when Lanenna Joiner completed a three-point play with 2:03 left.

Canyons then missed two shots before Merritt’s April Myers made a short jump shot to put the Thunderbirds ahead, 90-87, with 1:47 left.

Canyons’ attempted comeback was slowed when Kyetra Brown missed the front end of a one and one 30 seconds later.

She made one of two free throws with 42 seconds left to cut Merritt’s lead to 90-88.

But Merritt’s Michelle Baker and Jurate Zukauskiate each made two free throws in the closing seconds to put the game away.

“We have respect for everybody we play,” said Canyons Coach Greg Herrick. His team was the fourth-seeded from Southern California. “But we can play with everybody. We proved that tonight. We left our hearts out there on the floor.”

It was the school-record 19th consecutive victory for Merritt (35-1), which is averaging 82 points a game. The loss ends Canyons’ 12-game winning streak.

Canyons started the evening averaging a state-best 86 points a game.

“They are a very similar team to us,” Merritt Coach Fred Brown said. “They ran with us and not many teams can run with us but they did. The difference in the game was that we play nine people and all can play.”

Canyons seemed more ready to play at the outset.

Stephanie Labor, despite playing on a sore ankle, scored nine of Canyons’ first 14 points and the Cougars led, 14-7, four minutes into the game.

But Merritt quickly caught up and the teams were within two points of each other much of the half.

After being tied, 42-42, with three minutes until intermission, Merritt outscored Canyons, 9-4, and led, 51-46, at the break.

Kyetra Brown scored a team-high 23 points and also had 13 assists, but committed 10 turnovers for Canyons.

Brown, a freshman, was the most valuable player of the South Division of the Western State Conference.

“Next year we’re going to win everything,” she said. “I’m positive.”

Hamagaki finished with 19, Labor scored 17 and Kerri Garland had 13 points and 21 rebounds for Canyons.

Zukauskiate made 13 of 28 shots and finished with a game-high 33 points as well as six assists. Michelle Baker added 21 for Merritt, which advanced to play San Mateo--which defeated Golden West, 43-41--in a semifinal today at 6 p.m.

Ventura 86, College of the Siskiyous 74--The Pirates (26-2) opened a 37-27 lead at the half and went on for the victory. Ventura will play Los Angeles Harbor in a semifinal tonight at 8.

Harbor, the defending state champion, beat College of the Sequoias, 77-75, in overtime in another quarterfinal game.

Siskiyous (16-13) pulled to within 39-34 early in second half but Ventura switched to a full-court press and soon increased its lead to 10.

Amy Blackburn made a short jump shot to give Ventura a 63-49 lead with 7:04 to play.

Marina Reyes finished with a team-high 27 points for Ventura.

Kathryn Hay scored a game-high 38 points for Siskiyous.