SANTEE – It's known as the “Shot Clock Play” and it paid off twice for Serra last night as the visiting Conquistadors slipped by fourth-seeded West Hills 47-44 in a section Division II quarterfinal.

Senior point guard Tagisia Togisala executed the play to perfection, ending the second and third quarters with three-point baskets.

“We wanted to control the clock and this is one of the ways we do it,” Serra coach Ernie Biagioni said of the special play. “And 'T' does it so well. She's an excellent shooter.”

Yo-yoing her dribble as she stood at the top of the circle, Togisala watched the 30-second clock roll down to two seconds at the end of the second quarter. Then she connected for the first of her four three-pointers, tying the game at 21-21 as the half ended.

When Togisala repeated the play to end the third, it extended Serra's advantage to 38-33.

“It's no big deal,” said Togisala, who finished with 15 points, five steals and four assists. “I make sure I'm behind the line and the clock is about to expire before I shoot.”

Senior Ashley McWhorter (21 points, 10 rebounds) had a remarkable effort for Serra. She was hampered by leg cramps most of the second half and was carried off the court with 3:27 remaining and her team ahead 45-38.

McWhorter returned to action with 1:01 left.

“I was hurting pretty badly, but there was no way I could just sit there and watch,” McWhorter said.

West Hills (23-7) jumped to a 15-6 lead five minutes into the game. But the Pack, which starts all underclassmen, wilted offensively after that.

“I told everyone that we refused to lose,” McWhorter said after the Q's (21-9) won their sixth straight.

West Hills shot a paltry 28 percent (14-of-50). A three-point attempt by Kimberly Clark that would have tied the game spun off the rim with 10 seconds left.

After Serra missed the front end of a one-and-one, West Hills had another chance. However, Sherika Miller's shot at the buzzer was wide left.

“We did what we wanted to do defensively,” West Hills coach Ryan Kinser said, “but you aren't going to win many playoff games scoring 43 points.”