COSTA MESA GIRLS : Technical Difficulties Cost Woodbridge

A little help from an unexpected source helped Capistrano Valley hold on for a 57-51 victory over Woodbridge on Saturday night in the semifinals of the girls’ Costa Mesa Winter Basketball Classic.

Capistrano Valley advanced to Monday’s 8 p.m. championship game against South Coast League rival San Clemente, a 60-56 winner over Costa Mesa in the second semifinal.

Woodbridge Coach Eric Bangs effectively ended a Warrior rally when he picked up two technical fouls during a timeout with 2 minutes 8 seconds remaining. At that point, Woodbridge had rallied from an 18-point deficit to cut Capistrano Valley’s lead to 52-46.

Alisa Farr made three of four free-throw attempts from the technicals to increase the lead to 55-46.

Woodbridge trailed, 55-51, with 31 seconds left after a basket by Jenny Fenton, but the three points resulting from Bang’s technicals gave Capistrano Valley enough of a lead to hold off the Warriors.