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IRVINE — The Trinity League lessons of being physical and well-balanced continued to serve Orange Lutheran’s girls basketball team well on Wednesday night.
Post Sheridan Kennedy scored 16 points to establish an inside presence and guard Shea Joko added five 3-pointers as the top-seeded Lancers defeated No. 4 Crean Lutheran 72-52 in an intense CIF-SS Division 2AA semifinal at Crean Lutheran High.
The Empire League champion Saints (22-4) were called for two technical fouls while the Lancers (23-8) were whistled for one and had two starters foul out in the rare meeting between the schools.
Orange Lutheran’s Princess Cassell, left, guard Bianca Carter, center, and guard Ashari Cassell, right, watch as the ball falls through the basket for a score late in the fourth period against Crean Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball semifinal in Irvine on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran guard Bianca Carter, center, celebrates with her teammates after the Lancers defeated Crean Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball semifinal in Irvine on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran guard Bianca Carter, left, joins in the celebration after winning the CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball semifinal against Crean Lutheran in Irvine on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran guard Shea Joko, right, celebrates after the Lancers won the CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball semifinal against Crean Lutheran in Irvine on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
After taking a pass, Crean Lutheran forward Sydnee Norwood, center, scrambles away from Orange Lutheran guard Ashari Cassell, left, and guard Taliyah McPherson, right, in the CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball semifinal in Irvine on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran guard Bianca Carter, center, drives between Crean Lutheran forward Sydnee Norwood, left, and forward Gianna Deforest, right, to score a basket in the CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball semifinal in Irvine on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran guard Ashari Cassell, left, scores in front of Crean Lutheran guard Emily Reed, right, in the CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball semifinal in Irvine on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran guard Ashari Cassell, left, takes advantage of an opening in front of Crean Lutheran center Ashley Heyer, left, for the lay-up in the CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball semifinal in Irvine on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Crean Lutheran guard Taylor Feldman, right, loses her footing but is able to continue dribbling the ball to recover as she drives past Orange Lutheran guard Kelly Garrity, left, in the CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball semifinal in Irvine on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran forward Mikayla Holmes, right, blocks Crean Lutheran center Ashley Heyer, left, as she tries to take a shot by in the CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball semifinal in Irvine on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Crean Lutheran forward Sydnee Norwood, left, comes up against Orange Lutheran guard Madi Bogan, right, as she tries to put up a shot in the CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball semifinal in Irvine on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran guard Ashari Cassell, right, forces Crean Lutheran guard Taylor Feldman, left, to lose control of the ball in the CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball semifinal in Irvine on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
But Orange Lutheran, the fourth-place team in the Trinity League, had more weapons. The Lancers also produced 22 points off the bench and blocked five shots en route to reaching their first final since 2019.
“I definitely think we were prepared playing against Mater Dei, Santa Margarita and some tough matchups,” said Joko, a sophomore who finished 15 points. “You got to play hard and play your best (in the Trinity League). I know my team is down for me and I got them.”
Orange Lutheran will play host to No. 2-seeded Sage Hill in the championship Saturday. Sage Hill defeated host Santa Monica 58-41 in the other semifinal.
The Lightning defeated the Lancers 54-48 early in the season Last season, Sage Hill won the CIF-SS Division 3AA title.
Kennedy, a sophomore, scored 10 of her points in the first half and finished with a game-high 14 rebounds.
Freshman guard Kelly Garrity (10 points) made a 3-pointer to beat the buzzer at halftime and give Orange Lutheran a 34-21 lead. The basket came after a loose ball rebound went to the Lancers, a call Crean Lutheran argued against.
The third quarter opened with Orange Lutheran making two fouls for a technical foul on the Saints’ bench. Sophomore Princess Cassell followed with her first of two 3-pointers in the period. She finished with eight points off the bench.
Joko also made two 3-pointers in the third as Orange Lutheran outscored Cream Lutheran 26-13 to take control.
“I got to give it all to our bigs,” Joko said of a group that included Taliyah McFerson, Madison Bogan, Cassell and Heaven Johnson. “Our bigs just pound it inside and they brought us to (the victory).”
Johnson scored six of her eight points in the pivotal third and finished with two blocks.
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Northern Arizona-bound guard Taylor Feldman led Crean Lutheran with 32 points.
The Saints helped themselves by making 17 of 21 foul shots in the first half and 14 of 16 in the second half.
