Girls' basketball: Santa Maria St. Joseph is headed to Sacramento

Santa Maria St. Joseph has won the Southern California Regional Division III championship with a 54-45 victory over Gardena Serra. St. Joseph will play in the state final next Saturday at 1 p.m. in Sacramento.

Alyson Beebe, St. Joseph's 6-foot-3 junior center, had a huge game. It was her baseline shot with 2:12 left that put a stop to a Serra comeback. The Cavaliers had closed to 46-43 after trailing by 18 points in the second half. She finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds.

The Knights will play Oakland Bishop O'Dowd in the final. Bishop O'Dowd defeated Sacramento, 57-46.

-- Eric Sondheimer