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CIF-SS GIRLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
FRIDAY’S GAME
DIVISION 2A
Rosary (18-12) vs. Rolling Hills Prep (20-8) at Toyota Arena, 2 p.m.
Outlook: The second-seeded Royals face a Rolling Hills Prep team that it defeated 55-45 in late December. In its playoff run, Rolling Hills Prep has defeated Fountain Valley 48-34 and Sonora 55-45. Sonora coach Melissa Barajas was impressed with the well-rounded skills of Rolling Hills Prep sophomore guard Regan Enright and the rebounding of 6-foot-2 junior post Mia Fernandez. “They are a smart team that can really execute in the half court,” Barajas said. “Their offensive rebounding ability is really impressive. They are not deep but they have eight kids who can play their roles.” Rosary counters with a young squad that could start four sophomores and a junior. The Royals blend tall forwards such as Kate Duarte (6-foot junior), Sophie Lickl (5-foot-11 sophomore) and Maddie White (6-foot-1 sophomore) with guards such as sophomore Isabella Holmes. In the playoffs, Duarte is averaging 13.3 points and 10.8 rebounds while Holmes is averaging 12.8 points. Sophomore wing Kylie Yoon also is averaging 12.8 points in CIF. Rosary will be seeking to send veteran coach Richard Yoon out with his third section title and first since 2017. In his 31st year, Yoon has said this is “probably” his final season.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
All games at Edison High
DIVISION 3A
El Toro (17-11) vs. Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary (22-7), 6 p.m.
Outlook: El Toro, the Sea View League runner-up to Beckman, takes on an experienced Cardinals’ team capable of playing up-tempo with a full-court press. Cantwell-Sacred Heart senior guard Alicia Lara averages a team-high 14.2 points. Leilani Dominguez is a speedy, sophomore point guard who averages 12.4 points. Senior Marina Leiva is a 5-foot-11 post who can hit 3-pointers and block shots. Cantwell-Sacred Heart placed second in the Camino Real League, which produced Division 2AA St. Joseph and Division 4AA finalist Serra. The Chargers are a well-balanced team. They have a strong backcourt with leading scorers Mia Cubacub (15.4 ppg) and Mariana Mina (12.9 ppg) and some height with forward Camryn Bradshaw (5-foot-9 senior) and guard Bridget Boyd (5-foot-10 guard). Both teams competed in Division 3AA last season. El Toro lost in the first round to Oak Hills, which reached the Division 2A semifinals this season. Cantwell-Sacred Heart fell to Cerritos in the semifinals. “I think it’s going to be a great game,” El Toro coach Pat Nunez said.
DIVISION 4AA
Tesoro (22-11) vs. Serra (18-12), 2 p.m.
Outlook: The Titans, the third-place team from the Sea View League, have reached their first section final one season after finishing 4-23. “We’ve been building an environment this year where defense and transition is at the center of everything we do,” said second-year Tesoro coach Ra Reyes, who served as an assistant under longtime Tesoro coach Jim Arneson. “We’ve had some kids totally buy-in and it has helped us get there sooner than expected.” Tesoro has shown a full-court press and the ability to attack the rim with four-year varsity guard/forward Jade McMahon (team-leading 11.1 ppg). Serra also employs a press, said Anaheim coach Vince Gomez, whose team fell to Serra 42-39 in the second round. “Serra does a great job sitting in their press, waiting for the offense to get flustered or make a bad pass so they can capitalize,” he said. Gomez was impressed by Serra point guard Jadah Foster, who averages about 9.0 points and 1.8 steals.
DIVISION 5AA
Santa Ana (16-12) vs. Hillcrest of Riverside (21-6), 10 a.m.
Outlook: After falling in the Division 5AA quarterfinals last season, the Saints have reached the finals playing for interim coach Dana Nguyen since Jan. 15, the Santa Ana Unified School District confirmed. Santa Ana coach Calvin Barnes said earlier this week that he is on administrative leave due to an investigation related to the arrest of the school’s girls junior varsity basketball coach for sexual assault for allegedly having a dating relationship with a 16-year-old girl at the school. Barnes said he was the reporting party in the case. Santa Ana police public information officer Natalie Garcia confirmed that Barnes reported the situation to the police. Santa Ana earned an at-large berth to the playoffs after finishing fourth in the Golden West League behind Tustin (Division 4AA), Kennedy (Division 4A) and Fullerton (Division 5AA). Hillcrest beat Fullerton 32-27 in second round. Santa Ana Ana and Fullerton split their two league games. Senior guard Kalleigh Solis leads the Saints with a 17.2 scoring average.
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