Troy Able to Pull Off Inside Job

Two of the Southland’s best defenses played for the Southern Section Division II-AA title, and it turned out to be every bit as defensive as one would expect, almost to the point of being offensive.

But top-seeded Fullerton Troy held on for a 35-31 victory over second-seeded Villa Park on Friday at Long Beach State with the help of twin sisters Rhaya and Rheya Neabors.

It was fourth consecutive title for Troy (30-1), which held a 13-10 halftime lead.

Troy’s previous low output this season was 36 in its only loss, 44-36, to New York Christ the King, the consensus No. 1 team in the country. The Warriors are ranked No. 1 in the Southland by The Times.

The Neabors, both 6-1 forwards headed to Arizona, led the way, scoring 10 and eight points apiece. With that tenuous halftime lead, it was their back-to-back post moves to start the third quarter that made the difference.

“We hammered home at halftime that we have to pound the ball inside, that’s the one area we had an advantage,” said Troy Coach Kevin Kiernan, whose team was making its seventh consecutive title appearance and won its fifth. “We got a little separation, that was the key.”

Villa Park (29-2) was led by Courtney Ford with 11 points and Katie Kissee had nine.

-- Martin Henderson

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Pomona Diamond Ranch 40, Anaheim Magnolia 36 -- The second-seeded Panthers rallied in the fourth quarter, outscoring fourth-seeded Magnolia, 12-4, to win their 12th game in a row and the Division III-AA title at Long Beach State.

Junior guard Nina Earl had 13 points and eight rebounds for Diamond Ranch (28-4), which led at halftime, 21-18.

Jhakia McDonald had 11 points and eight rebounds for Magnolia (21-10).

Diamond Ranch took the lead for good with 3:05 left when Earl was fouled on a successful layup and made her free throw.

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L.A. Pacific Hills 51, Calimesa Mesa Grande 24 -- The top-seeded Bruins took their third consecutive Division V-AA title in dominating fashion, coasting to victory over third-seeded Calimesa Mesa Grande at Long Beach State.

Freshman guard Bree Richardson, the daughter of former Clipper Pooh Richardson, had 13 points and eight rebounds for Pacific Hills and spearheaded a full-court press defense that allowed the Bruins to lead, 29-10, at halftime and extend their unbeaten streak to 16 games.

Pacific Hills (27-2) also held a 61-35 advantage in rebounds over the Cardinals (22-6). Ariel Dale had 11 points and six rebounds and teammate Joanna Miller added 10 points and had seven rebounds in the win.

Mesa Grande Academy’s Megan Bradford scored a game-high 20 points.

-- Austin Knoblauch