Girls’ basketball: Serra pulls off upset for 4AA title

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Guard Caila Hailey broke a 77-77 tie with a pair of free throws with 6.5 seconds remaining and added another free throw with 0.3 seconds left in the third overtime as Gardena Serra pulled out an 82-77 victory over Los Angeles Windward in the Southern Section Division 4AA championship game at the Anaheim Convention Center.

With Windward trailing 79-77, Imani Stafford spun in the lane for a layup but was called for a double dribble, nullifying the basket with two seconds left. The Wildcats then tried to call a timeout but didn’t have any left, resulting in a techincal foul. Siera Thompson sank both free throws, upping Serra’s lead to 81-77. Hailey was fouled again with 0.3 seconds left and made the second of two shots to provide the final margin.

Thompson had 22 points and UNLV-bound Rejane Verin added 20 for the seventh-seeded Cavaliers (27-3), who used an 18-11 fourth-quarter run to force overtime. Jordin Canada had 21 points, Kristen Simon had 17 and Macchiati Smith added 14 for the Wildcats, who were trying to win their second straight 4AA title.

There were 17 ties and 16 lead changes. Windward had the largest lead, 40-29, in the third quarter.

-- Steve Galluzzo