Girls’ basketball: Long Beach Poly advances to state Division I final
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Four-time state champion Long Beach Poly has fought back from an early elimination in the Southern Section 1AA playoffs to reach the state Division I girls’ final after a 63-40 victory over Moreno Valley Canyons Springs in the CIF Southern California championship game.
The Jackrabbits (29-5) were led by 5-6 sophomore Tania Lamb, who made three of five shots from three-point range and finished with 16 points. Jada Matthews added 10 for the Jackrabbits, who will face longtime foe Berkeley in Friday’s 6 p.m. final in a matchup of two of the state’s premier programs.
“It’s like old times,” Poly Coach Carl Buggs said of playing Berkeley. “It brings back memories.”
Poly has suddenly gotten hot from three-point range. The Jackrabbits made nine in the semifinals and seven on Saturday, led by Lamb.
“She can shoot like that,” Buggs said. “She’s been hot lately. She always plays great defense.”
Cheyenne Greenhouse led Canyon Springs with 14 points and nine rebounds.
-- Eric Sondheimer