STATE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : GIRLS’ DIVISION I : Leslie Shakes Off Illness, Berkeley

OAKLAND —  Senior center Lisa Leslie shook off the effects of an undetermined illness Saturday night to lead Inglewood Morningside High School to its second consecutive State Division I girls basketball championship.

The 6-foot-5 Leslie, who was taken to a hospital after the game as a precautionary measure, had 35 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocked shots as Morningside held off Berkeley, 67-56, at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

“She was feeling bad enough where we thought about not letting her play,” Morningside Coach Frank Scott said. “I kind of left it up to her. She wanted to do well in her last game.”

Leslie, who said she felt weak, nevertheless was at her best late in the game after Berkeley cut a 17-point, third-quarter deficit to 52-49 on a three-point shot by guard Vikki Horne with 4:45 left.

Leslie responded with four consecutive baskets to build Morningside’s lead to 60-51 with 1:45 left. She scored 13 of the Lady Monarchs’ final 15 points, mostly from close range against the Yellowjackets’ smaller front line.

Morningside (32-3) was the only Southern California team to win one of the five girls state finals.

Tanda Rucker scored 25 points for Berkeley (31-2). Janet Davis added 14 points for Morningside.