SUNSET LEAGUE GIRLS’ BASKETBALL : Walker Helps Oilers Clinch Share of Title

Clare Walker played inside, outside and upside down to help Huntington Beach clinch a share of the Sunset League girls’ basketball championship with a 71-53 victory over Edison Thursday at Edison High School.

Walker had 29 points and 20 rebounds to lead fourth-ranked Huntington Beach (23-3, 13-1 in league), which tied Marina for the title. Marina (20-4, 13-1), ranked fifth in Orange County, defeated Ocean View, 51-25. Marina and Huntington Beach split their two league games.

Edison (13-11, 7-7) finished the season in fifth place, but might receive an at-large playoff bid.

Thursday, Huntington Beach Coach Nick Bartlett inverted his full-court press by moving his center, Walker, to the point of the Oilers’ full-court press.

The results were devastating.

Huntington Beach outscored Edison, 14-0, over a 2 1/2-minute span to take an 18-7 lead with 1 minute 14 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

With 5-foot-9 Walker and 5-8 Deana Itow trapping Edison’s shorter guards, the Chargers turned the ball over quickly and frequently. Huntington Beach freshman Renee Kimoto finished with nine steals and 10 points.

“The press disrupted us,” Edison Coach Phil Abraham said. “That one stretch dictated the whole game. We were going uphill for the rest of the night.”

Walker also created havoc on the offensive end, making 14 of 31 shots from the field on everything from layups to 19-footers. Itow finished with 17 points, 12 in the first quarter, and 14 assists.

Edison didn’t enjoy the same success, shooting 33% from the field. Leading scorer Joan Paje made only five of 23 shots from the field.

Paje, who scored a school-record 50 points in the Chargers’ 89-87 double-overtime loss to Huntington Beach in the teams’ first meeting, finished with 18 points, including two three-pointers.

Edison freshman forward Marie Philman had 16 points, 17 rebounds and four blocked shots.

In other league games:

Marina 51, Ocean View 25--Shandy Robbins had 12 points and 12 rebounds for Marina (20-4, 13-1), which clinched a share of its third consecutive league title. Ocean View (14-11, 8-6) qualifies for the playoffs with a third-place finish.

Fountain Valley 59, Westminster 29--Sally Nuruki scored 14 points for Fountain Valley (14-11, 8-6).