GIRLS’ DIVISION III-AA : Morningside’s Pressure Defense Proves Too Much for El Dorado

BREA — With only one returning starter from last year’s championship team, Morningside still put itself in position to repeat by trouncing El Dorado, 55-41, in the Southern Section Division III-AA girls’ basketball semifinals at Brea-Olinda High School.

Ironically, the Monarchs (17-10) will face Wednesday night’s host school in the championship, when they meet Brea-Olinda Saturday night at UC Irvine’s Bren Center.

After El Dorado took a 5-2 lead, Morningside went on an eight-point run, on the way to a 20-9 lead after one quarter. The Monarchs widened the gap to 17 in the second quarter, 34-17, with a quick offense and tight defense.

The Morningside defense was the difference, with 11 steals, including five in the first quarter. El Dorado (18-7) appeared unable to deal with the aggressive, in-your-face style of play.

“They were hot in the first half, and we weren’t; that’s about it,” El Dorado Coach Dan Henshall said. “We made some changes in the second half, but it was too late.”

One change was from a zone to a man-to-man defense, and the Golden Hawks not only held Morningside to six points in the third quarter, but closed the gap to eight points at the start of the fourth.

Tina Thompson, a forward, led Morningside with 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Kameisha Prewitt added 16, while Jody Caruso, El Dorado’s season scoring leader, was held to two.