Hardy, Giordano Spark Buena, 53-44

Only two starters from Buena High scored until late in the fourth quarter but they provided enough offense to lift the Bulldogs past Clovis, 53-44, Tuesday in the first round of the Southern California Division I regional girls’ basketball tournament.

Forwards Julie Hardy and Michelle Giordano each scored 20 points to dominate the smaller Cougars in the low post.

“We usually have a little more balanced scoring,” Buena Coach Joe Vaughan said. “But we wanted to try to get the ball inside. We felt we could exploit their size.”

Buena (24-3) used a full-court press to force 11 turnovers in the first half, taking a 27-20 halftime lead.

“They had some some good players who could really penetrate so we used a couple of different zones to slow them,” Vaughan said.

Giordano, a junior and the Bulldogs’ leading scorer, contributed 10 rebounds and six blocked shots.

Senior point guard Eboni Conley was the only other starter to score for Buena, making five free throws in the final two minutes. Reserves Amber Seward and Kara Newman each had four points to complete Buena’s scoring.

Clovis (26-4), the Central Section champion, closed to within 31-28 with 2 minutes 38 seconds left in the third period, but Giordano and Hardy each scored two points to give Buena a 35-28 lead entering the fourth quarter.

With 3:08 to play, Giordano made a layup that put the Bulldogs ahead, 42-33.

“We let their best player get off under the basket,” Clovis Coach Mike McGough said.

“You can’t stand up and let Mike Tyson punch you in the face or you won’t even last through the first round.”

Senior forward Janine Nowell led Clovis with 14 points.

“We’ve lost in the first round the last three years,” Vaughan said. “So right now we are just happy to be in this position.”

Buena will play Crenshaw, a 60-54 winner over Capistrano Valley, Thursday in the semifinals.