SMALL SCHOOLS: O.C.'S POST PLAY STEPS UP.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Special to the Daily News

Oaks Christian of Westlake Village features one of the area's flashiest backcourts and some of the most unheralded post players.

But it was hard not to notice senior Devon Giuliani and junior Jennifer Sterling, both forwards, during Saturday's 63-58 Southern Section Div. IV-AA championship loss to Marlborough of Los Angeles at the Pyramid at Long Beach State.

The Lions' frontcourt faced one of the most formidable post combinations in the state. Marlborough senior center Abi Olajuwon (former NBA star Hakeem's daughter) is 6-foot-4, and freshman forward Talia Caldwell is 6-2.

Giuliani (5-10) and Sterling (5-9) combined for 11 rebounds.

Marlborough outrebounded Oaks Christian 55-40, but Lions coach Don McMaster was satisfied with his frontcourt play, especially considering the height disparity.

``It was a big challenge, and they did very well battling them and boxing them out as well as they could,'' Oaks Christian coach Don McMaster said. ``They got a few over-the-back calls against them because they were doing a great job boxing out and fighting for position.''

To those in Oaks Christian circles, their performance in the title game was no surprise.

Sterling leads the team in rebounding, averaging 6.6 per game, and Giuliani, known mostly for defense, averages 3.9.

``We've been hearing all week that we have no chance because of (Marlborough's) post players, but our post players played an awesome game,'' sophomore guard Chelsea Carlisle said.

Carlisle and junior guard Michelle Clark and did pretty well, too. Clark scored 23 points, and Carlisle scored 22. They combined for nine 3-pointers.

``Most people don't think we even have post players, but (Giuliani and Sterling) have done a great job for us all year,'' McMaster said. ``(Clark and Carlisle) get all the publicity, but Jen has done a great job rebounding and Devon just fights everybody tooth and nail. She's probably our best defensive post player.''

--3-point free zone? Perimeter-shooting teams at all levels complain about playing in spacious venues that alter depth perception.

It didn't seem to bother Oaks Christian, which was 11 for 27 from beyond the arc at the Pyramid.

Marlborough, which was 1 for 9 on 3-point attempts, was among several teams that shot poorly from the perimeter at the Pyramid.

``I don't think that bothered us at all,'' McMaster said. ``We can shoot anywhere.''

--Rematch: Oaks Christian plays at perennial state power La Jolla Country Day in a first-round state playoff game tonight at 7 p.m.

Oaks Christian played Country Day in a second-round state playoff game in 2003, when the Lions were Southern Section champions.

Country Day won that game 69-39 with a team that featured current Stanford standout Candace Wiggins.

``She was a step ahead of the rest of us, but that was fun to go there and play them,'' McMaster said.

Gideon Rubin, [phone]

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

SIONE FUA 

Senior, Crespi of Encino

The 6-foot-3, 275-pound standout became the first San Fernando Valley wrestler and the second in area history to win a state title, defeating Edison of Huntington Beach's Romney Fuga 2-1 in double overtime in the heavyweight final Saturday in Bakersfield. Fua - a Stanford-bound lineman in football - went 38-5 this season, 5-0 at the state finals.

TAYLOR LILLEY

Senior, Hart of Newhall

The Oregon-bound guard scored 19 points, with two buzzer-beating shots, to lead Hart to a 54-37 victory over Canyon of Canyon Country and its first Southern Section girls' basketball championship since 1990. Lilley, who scored 21 points in a 51-48 semifinal victory over Pasadena, hit a half-court shot at the end of the first quarter to spark a 14-0 Hart run.

UP & COMER

CHELSEA FORTE

El Camino Real of Woodland Hills

Part of the Conquistadores' outstanding freshman class, Forte helped ECR win its City Section-record sixth consecutive girls' soccer title Saturday with a 1-0 victory over Granada Hills. Forte, a starting defender, contributed to a backline instrumental in four playoff shutouts.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, 7 boxes

Photo:

(1) SIONE FUA

(2) TAYLOR LILLEY

(3) CHELSEA FORTE

Box:

(1) ATHLETES OF THE WEEK (see text)

(2) UP & COMER (see text)

(3) THINK YOU KNOW?

(4) RANDOM NUMBERS 

(5) THEY SAID IT

(6) DAY PLANNER

(7) TRIVIA ANSWER