SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES : 1-A Girls : Parriott Scores 38 in Valley Christian Victory

Kari Parriott, Cerritos Valley Christian’s 6-foot 3-inch center, tried to explain a brilliant shooting performance in her team’s 64-50 victory over Atascadero in the Girls Southern Section 1-A championship game Friday night at Cerritos College.

“Usually, I’m so nervous I can’t see straight,” Parriott said. “This time I wasn’t nervous at all. I don’t know why.”

Parriott made 17 of 19 shots and scored 38 points to give Valley Christian its second 1-A title in three years. The victory also avenged last year’s 60-55 loss to Atascadero in the semifinals.

Valley Christian (25-2) advanced to the Southern California Regionals of the State tournament Wednesday against an opponent and at a site to be announced Sunday. Atascadero (22-3) finished as the 1-A runner-up for the second year in a row.

Parriott already had 23 points by halftime, and that helped give Valley Christian a 33-22 lead. Parriott, who will attend Oregon State next year, was a perfect 11 for 11 from the field and also made a free throw.

Atascadero closed to within seven points with just more than four minutes left in the third quarter, but Valley Christian pulled away behind the play of Parriott and forward Donna Pollema, who scored 16 of her 20 points in the second half.

Valley Christian dominated the game by playing a 2-3 zone that denied Atascadero any chance of moving the ball inside. Each time Atascadero tried to get a shot off from a reasonable distance or pass the ball inside, it was either batted away or stolen by the Crusaders.

“Our plan was to be within five or six points at halftime,” Atascadero Coach Jim Stecher said. “But we came out a little unsure of ourselves and it hurt us, especially the way Parriott was shooting.”

Atascadero was led by guard Rene Brill and forward Michala Jarmin, both of whom scored 11 points.