Pirates advance in regional playoffs

COSTA MESA ? Sophomore center Madison Parks had a team-high 15 points to lead Orange Coast College to a 56-51 win over Long Beach City in the first round of the Southern California regional women’s basketball playoffs Friday.

OCC sophomores Teeya Fernandez and Crystal McCormick each made free throws down the stretch to help the Pirates prevail and advance.

Coach Mike Thornton’s No. 3-seeded Pirates (28-5) will play the winner of tonight’s first-round clash between Ventura and Imperial Valley in the quarterfinals on March 4.

Parks also led the Pirates in rebounds with nine, while teammate Jillian Ricks added 13 points and McCormick finished with 12.