El Toro Pulls Off Big Upset

Amy Everett was scoreless for 31 minutes and 58 seconds but in the last two seconds of the game she turned a pass from Gioconda Mendiola into the winning points as unseeded El Toro shocked top-seeded Crescenta Valley, 63-61, in a Division I-AA quarterfinal game Saturday night at El Toro High.

Crescenta Valley standout Michelle Greco scored 27 points, including a 15-foot jumper with 18 seconds left to tie the score, 61-61.

After a timeout with 5.8 seconds to go, Greco blocked a Gioconda Mendiola lay-up attempt, but Mendiola recovered the ball after the block and passed across the key to a wide-open Everett, who made the game winning layup.

El Toro, which trailed by 14-points late in the third quarter, got 23 of it’s 25 fourth-quarter points from two players.

Sophomore Guiliana Mendiola, a sophomore, scored 13 of her 21 points in the final quarter and Suzanne Guy scored 10 of her 16 points in the fourth.

In Tuesday’s semifinals, El Toro will face Long Beach Wilson, which defeated Esperanza.

The Chargers improve to 27-2 while the Falcons finish at 24-3.

DIVISION I-AA

Palos Verdes Peninsula 53, Arroyo Grande 47--Lara Hanson had four three-point baskets, including three in the second quarter, as the Panthers won a quarterfinal game at Arroyo Grande.

Hanson and Natalie Kelly each scored 14 points for Peninsula and Lauryn Morita had 11.

Carly O’Halloran scored 18 points for Arroyo Grande.

Long Beach Wilson 56, Anaheim Esperanza 52--Dawn McCullouch scored five of her 17 points in the second overtime of the quarterfinal victory at Wilson.

Wilson overcame a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the score, 43-43, at the end of regulation.

The score was 47-47 after the first overtime, setting the stage for McCullouch’s game-winning points.

Leah Combs led Esperanza with 23 points.

Chino Hills Ayala 64, Diamond Bar 46--Ayala defeated its Sierra League rival for the third time this season in a quarterfinal at Chino High.

Sophomore Candice Allen scored 20 points and had eight rebounds and four assists for Ayala, which led, 35-22, at halftime.

Loni Ives had 11 points and 10 rebounds and Chantea Fleming had 12 rebounds for Ayala.

Monica Armstrong led Diamond Bar with 18 points.