Calvary Chapel Holds On to Reach Final

Cathy Joens did all she could to ensure history would not repeat itself.

She scored 36 points and got 10 rebounds and Calvary Chapel hung on for a 62-61 victory Saturday over host Playa del Rey St. Bernard to advance to the Southern Section Division IV-A girls’ basketball final.

Joens scored 12 of Calvary Chapel’s 16 fourth-quarter points. However, the Eagles (24-5) nearly blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead and were barely able to avenge their four-point loss to the Vikings in last year’s Southern Section final.

St. Bernard (17-4) tied the score, 60-60, on a three-pointer by Alexis Kendricks with 23 seconds left.

Playing for the final shot, Joens passed to Michelle Pitts, who made an eight-foot baseline jumper to give the Eagles a two-point lead with five seconds left.

After the inbounds pass, St. Bernard’s Shannon Howell missed a desperation three-pointer, but was fouled by Shana Fabre.

Needing all three free throws to win and two to force overtime, Howell stood alone on the court with no time remaining and missed the first and third attempts.

“They came back and made us work for it,” said Joens, who had 19 first-half points, including making all 11 of her free throws. “But this was a total team effort.”

Kendricks led St. Bernard with 25 points.