LAWNDALE Leuzinger basketball star Madison Watts had toed this line before.
As a freshman, Watts converted the clinching free throws in Mary Star’s CIF finals victory over Agoura.
Now as a senior at Leuzinger, Watts stepped to the free-throw line again with a chance to seal another playoff victory.
Cooly, calmly and suavely, Watts sank two free throws with 1.2 seconds left to clinch a contentious 62-60 home victory over Marlborough Thursday in the opening round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.
“I knew I had to stay composed. It was the same as my freshman year,” Watts said. “The crowd was loud, but my teammates really helped me stay calm and relaxed. It wasn’t too much pressure.”
The Loyola Marymount-bound Watts scored 29 points to help Ocean League champion Leuzinger (25-4) advance to Saturday’s second-round matchup at Pioneer League champion North Torrance.
Marlborough’s Lauren Munoz had scored on a layup with 10 seconds left to tie the game, but Watts pushed the ball up court, drove to the basket and drew the foul to set up her decisive free throws as Leuzinger won its Division 1 playoff debut.
“I got the ball in my hands and I trusted myself and my teammates,” Watts said. “My dad tells me when we are down or not playing well, I have to be me and take over the game. I was prepared for moments like this.”
The game did not come without controversy.
Marlborough appeared to lose two points due to a discrepancy between the official home scorebook and scoreboard in the third quarter.
Marlborough coach Sixx Johnson also contended there was discrepancy with fouls called on players from both teams.
“I always like to trust the table to do the right thing. I don’t want to say cheating because people make mistakes, but a lot more was on the officials,” Johnson said. “You don’t want to see a game decided by the refs.”
Leuzinger coach Bo Corona said he was uncertain what happened with the disappearing two points.
“I don’t know honestly,” Corona said. “I’m not paying attention to the points. I am usually more concerned about the fouls. If there was a mistake, I didn’t see it.
“I don’t want to win because of an error.”
Corona praised his team for holding its poise against a Marlborough team that had been battle-tested in the Mission League.
University of San Diego-bound Dresha Moore posted 14 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks before fouling out with 1 minute left in the game. Moore also bruised and battled against Marlborough’s Leila Boykin in a big-time matchup.
Andrea Lopez scored 12 points for Leuzinger, including a key 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter. Ashley Maciel added a pair of second-half 3-pointers and finished with six points. Leah Sarabia added six assists for Leuzinger.
Munoz scored 20 points to lead Marlborough (15-13). Boykin had 19 points before fouling out, and Ballew added 13 points. Marlborough converted eight 3-pointers to keep pace.
“Once their big player went out, we kept pushing and pushing,” Watts said.
Leuzinger ran roughshod through the Ocean League, but impressed with a nonleague victory over Long Beach Poly and won the Palm Springs Tournament. It also avenged last year’s CIF finals loss to Bonita.
On Thursday, Leuzinger showed its grit.
“We do not have a deep bench. We have relied on our five for the whole season, that’s where we are right now,” Corona said. “We are not deep, but we make due. This group has survived all year, and they give it all they can.
“This was our first time playing in a Division 1 game. I told them they can be history or make history, and they made history.”
In other playoff action
REDONDO 55, SONORA 30: Ella Zimmerman had 19 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks to lead the Sea Hawks to the Division 1 win.
Redondo led 34-18 at halftime. Elyse Cho had 10 points, Abby Zimmerman had nine points and 12 rebounds and Chloe Choy had eight points and three rebounds.Redondo will visit Portola in Saturday’s second round.
MIRA COSTA 51, BISHOP AMAT 33: The second-seeded Mustangs went on the road and defeated the Lancers in Division 2AA.
Juju O’Brien had 22 points and eight rebounds and Kristyn Kim had nine points. Mira Costa will host Mark Keppel Saturday.