MARINA GIRLS’ BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : Trippet’s Two Free Throws Push Marina Past Huntington Beach

Jessica Trippet hit two free throws with two seconds remaining to give Marina a 54-53 victory over Huntington Beach in the quarterfinals of the Marina girls’ tournament Friday night at Marina High School.

Trippet, a junior center, scored 28 points and had 13 rebounds to lead the Vikings (10-1) over the Oilers (4-5), their Sunset League rivals. The game was close throughout, with the teams trading leads until Trippet’s free throws.

Marina led, 52-48, with 38 seconds remaining when Trippet made both ends of a one-plus-one situation, but Huntington Beach pulled to within a point on a three-point shot by Deana Itow with 27 seconds left. The Oilers then took a 53-52 lead with nine seconds left on a follow shot by forward Clare Walker. Walker scored 30 points and had a game-high 16 rebounds.

With four seconds remaining, Trippet was called for traveling to give the ball back to Huntington Beach. But on the Oiler inbounds pass, a jump ball occurred when a Viking defender tied up Huntington Beach’s Amber Allen. The possession arrow gave the ball back to Marina.

With two seconds left, Trippet was fouled by Nicole Featherston while attempting a jumper from the free-throw line. Trippet converted the game-winning free throws, and time expired before Huntington Beach could get a shot off.

The Oilers started quickly, jumping to a 15-7 lead late in the first quarter behind the shooting of Walker and Wistrick. The duo combined for 11 of Huntington Beach’s points in the quarter.

The Vikings rallied behind Trippet, who scored 16 points in the first half, including eight in the second quarter when Marina pulled ahead, 21-20, with 4:37 remaining. Marina later went on an 8-0 run to increase its lead to 31-23 before Walker scored six consecutive points to bring the Oilers to within 31-29 at halftime.

Marina meets Ocean View in tonight’s semifinals at 8:30.

In other quarterfinal games:

Ocean View 66, Kent (Wash.) 58--Kristy Bell scored 19 points and had 10 rebounds as the Seahawks advanced to tonight’s semifinals against Marina.

Mission Viejo 46, Estancia 40--Magdalena Gorska scored 19 points and Kelly McGlothlin added 12 to lead the Diablos. Mission Viejo meets Bishop Montgomery in the semifinals at 7 tonight. Monique Sweet led Estancia with 16 points.

Bishop Montgomery 50, Fountain Valley 44--The Barons fell despite 14 points by Julie Murden. Fountain Valley faces Estancia at 4 p.m. today in the fifth-place semifinals.