Highlights: Birmingham outduels King/Drew in CIF-LACS girls basketball semifinals

Sophomore Zoee Mitchell led a balanced scoring effort for the Patriots

TORRANCE, Calif. - For the first time this season, an in-section opponent gave top-ranked Birmingham a run for its money for four whole quarters.

But the top-seeded Patriots were up for the challenge, holding off King/Drew 49-44 on Saturday at El Camino College.

For Birmingham, Zoee Mitchell notched game-highs of 15 points and nine rebounds to go with three assists and two blocks. Nat Lopez totaled 11 points, nine rebounds, five steals, and four assists, and fellow backcourt member Sammy Velasquez amassed eight points and six steals.

Anayla Anderson led King/Drew with 10 points, and Alexis Wallace totaled nine points, five rebounds, four steals, and three assists. Christiuana Taylor had eight points to go with four steals and three assists.