Oparah Leads Brethren Christian Past No. 1 Crossroads

Backed by Cindy Oparah’s career-high 37 points, Brethren Christian upset top-seeded Santa Monica Crossroads, 56-45, in a Division IV-A girls’ basketball semifinal Saturday at Ocean View High.

Brethren Christian, the third-place team from the Olympic League, advances to the championship game against league co-champion Cerritos Valley Christian, a 60-33 winner over Brentwood.

Oparah, a senior forward, made 15 of 27 field-goal attempts, including four of five during a four-minute span of the fourth quarter when the Warriors extended their two-point lead to 10.

“Cindy is by far the most underrated basketball player in Orange County,” Brethren Christian Coach Kim Harris said. “I’ve never been surprised by her talent, she’s just by far an extremely talented athlete.”

Oparah and Crossroads freshman Courtney Young carried their teams through the first three quarters. They each had 15 points at the half, when Brethren Christian held a 26-23 advantage.

Young tied the score with a three-pointer on Crossroads’ first possession of the second half, but the Warriors answered with a 9-0 run that was capped by Oparah’s three-point play. Crossroads came back with an 11-0 run of its own, taking its first lead of the game on Sharon Yamauchi’s layup with 2:12 left in the third quarter.

The Warriors (18-10) went back ahead by two after three quarters, then Oparah extended the lead to 43-39 when she put back her own miss with 5:55 remaining. Two minutes later, Oparah took her only three-point attempt of the game and sank it from the top of the key to move Brethren Christian ahead by seven.

Oparah hit two more inside baskets to put Brethren Christian up, 52-42, with two minutes remaining, and Crossroads began launching three-pointers but made only one of six down the stretch.

Young, who finished with 22 points, was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. Crossroads’ Tiffany Cave, who was one of three starters averaging double figures, was held scoreless for the game.

In the Division III-AA semifinals:

La Puente 26, Ocean View 21--Anna Lembke scored 12 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and had seven steals for Ocean View (13-15). Perla Sanchez led La Puente (25-1) with 11 points.

In the Division IV-AA semifinals:

Calvary Chapel 31, Morro Bay 22--Cathy Joens scored seven of her game-high 17 points in the fourth quarter for Calvary Chapel, which led, 13-7, at halftime. T.J. Gause added six points for the Eagles (23-5). The Eagles will face Playa Del Rey St. Bernard in the final.