Woodbridge Knocks Buena From Chance at Lofty Perch

IRVINE — Buena High, poised to become the No. 1 girls’ basketball team in the state, missed its chance Monday when it lost to Irvine Woodbridge, 56-54, in the Pacifica Premier Challenge at UC Irvine.

Woodbridge’s upset came two days after top-ranked Brea Olinda lost to Mater Dei.

Woodbridge (13-3) foiled Buena (12-2) by balancing its strong inside game with timely outside shooting.

With the score tied, 35-35, Nicole Roberts and Debby Caine opened the fourth quarter by making consecutive three-point baskets for Woodbridge.

Krissy Duperron provided the inside muscle. The 6-foot senior scored 17 points, had eight rebounds and three steals. Duperron’s physical strength prevented 6-foot-2 Nicole Greathouse from monopolizing the key. Although Greathouse had 17 points, she scored only two in 21 minutes between the first and fourth quarters.

Greathouse got untracked late in the game, scoring six consecutive points in a span of 63 seconds to pull Buena within a point. But after the teams exchanged baskets, a three-pointer by Carly Moss with 1:13 to play gave Woodbridge a 52-48 lead.

Stephanie Kinnear added a free-throw with 21 seconds left, but she then missed a three-point attempt after Renae Hufmann stole Woodbridge’s inbounds pass.

Duperron got the rebound and hit two free-throws after being fouled with 8.2 seconds to go. Greathouse made a three-pointer with one second left.

The loss probably will result in Buena dropping a notch or two in the rankings, but even before the game Bulldog Coach Joe Vaughan didn’t seem too concerned. “It really boils down to where you are at the end of the year,” he said.