Cerritos dominated the boards in the final 20 minutes on Saturday night during a 64-52 women’s basketball victory over SBCC in the championship semifinals of the Sequoias Tom Gilchrist Invitational.
The Falcons (6-2), ranked 14th in the state, won the rebound battle 47-34, thanks to a 27-15 edge in the second half.
The Vaqueros (7-4) were without the services of versatile guard Imelda Bealer, who missed the contest with a shoulder injury.
Brooke Amenta had 11 points and five rebounds and Leslie Steele scored nine of her 11 points in the second half on 3-4 shooting from 3-point country. Janelle Wong had 10 points and seven assists for the Vaqueros, who had their three-game win streak snapped.
Nanice Kollee had nine points and four assists for SBCC, which trailed 27-24 at intermission. Brooke Berry collected six rebounds, four assists and six steals.
The Vaqueros will take on San Joaquin Delta or L.A. Valley in Sunday’s third-place game at 2 p.m. in Visalia.
