EMPIRE LEAGUE GIRLS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Cypress Tops Esperanza to Clinch League Title

Junior forward Lupe Nava and senior guard Frances Oda have been the catalysts of the Cypress High School girls’ basketball team this season. Tuesday night at Esperanza, they again provided the leadership--and the points--for the Centurions.

Nava scored a game-high 14 points and Oda added nine as Cypress (18-6, 8-1 in league), the eighth-ranked team in Orange County, clinched the Empire League title by rallying for a 42-37 victory over Esperanza (15-7, 6-3).

Cypress, which last season finished second in the league to Esperanza, trailed most of the game but dominated the fourth quarter on the shooting of Nava and Oda, and on Jessica Eggleston’s rebounding.

Nava could not shake loose from Esperanza’s tough double-team defense against her in the low post and was limited to four points in the first three periods. But she scored eight of Cypress’ first 12 points in the final quarter to turn a 28-23 Centurion deficit after three periods into a 35-32 lead with 3 minutes 53 seconds remaining. Oda had six of her points in the period.

Cypress controlled the fourth quarter, jumping to a 39-32 lead on a 14-0 run. Esperanza failed to score from the 6:15 mark until 41 seconds remained.

Center Joanna Humphrey also had nine points for Cypress. Guard Michele Fujioka and forward Lisa Ruppe each scored nine for Esperanza.

In other league games:

Katella 67, Los Alamitos 42--Forward Jeannette Schenk had 19 points, forward Dawn Vance added 16 and guard Hopey Franklin contributed 12 for Katella (7-15, 3-6 in league). Cindy Yamasaki scored 11 for Los Alamitos (4-16, 0-9).

Loara 50, El Dorado 39--Tracy Titus scored 15 points for Loara (13-10, 6-3 in league) in a home game played at Valencia High School. Miyuki Shiba had 13 points and eight rebounds, and Rebecca Stevens added 12 points for Loara. Center Erin Vessey had a game-high 22 points for El Dorado (9-12, 4-5).