2008 State Basketball Championship Recaps
Friday-Saturday, March 14-15, 2008
ARCO Arena , Sacramento
DIVISION IV BOYS
CAMPBELL HALL (No. Hollywood) def.
ST. MARY'S COLLEGE (Berkeley) 83-61
Freshman Austin McBroom had 30 points, seven assists as three steals as Campbell Hall of North Hollywood downed St. Mary‘s of Berkeley, 83-61, to win its third boys’ Division IV state title in the past four years.
The Vikings (31-5) led by 31 points late in the third quarter, but St. Mary’s (33-2) went on a 21-2 run to get within 12. McBroom countered with a three-pointer, and the Panthers never got any closer. Senior Jrue Holiday finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and four assists for the winners, and Dallas Rutherford scored 20.
Chris Brew led St. Mary’s (33-2) with 16 points, and Dominique Lee added 15 points and 15 rebounds, but the Panthers couldn’t stay with high-flying Vikings. The score was tied at 13 in the entertaining, up-and-down game, but Campbell steadily extended the lead until St. Mary‘s made its late charge.
Southern California teams have now won 16 of 21 Division IV boys’ championship games, Campbell Hall is undefeated in the state finals, winning in 2005, 2007 and now, 2008.
Sportsmanship Award: Keegan Hornbuckle, Campbell Hall; Aalim Moor, St. Mary's
DIVISION IV GIRLS
ST. PATRICK/ST. VINCENT (Vallejo) def.
LA JOLLA COUNTRY DAY 67-65
Jameiz Terrell hit a running 12-footer with 27 seconds left to cap a 15-point second-half comeback as St. Patrick/St. Vincent of Vallejo won its first girls’ Division IV state title by defeating La Jolla Country Day, 67-65.
Terrell had 10 points for the Bruins (30-5), who also got a double-double from Alex Cowlings (23 points and 10 rebounds) before she fouled out with 1:55 to go. Taylor Rojas also played a key role in St. Patrick/St. Vincent’s comeback by hitting four of four three-pointers, including one from NBA range with 2:34 left that completed a 22-point turnaround for the Bruins. They trailed 48-33 with 2:05 left in the third period, but after Rojas’ final three, led 64-57.
La Jolla Country Day (26-6) came right back, however, and Ariana Elegado’s driving layup gave the Torreys a 65-64 lead with 35 seconds to play. Terrell hit her awkward-looking shot eight seconds later, setting up a frenetic final sequence for La Jolla Country Day. Dominique Conners (21 points, eight rebounds) was fouled going to the hoop but missed both free throws -- Janae Fulcher (game-high 23 points, 10 rebounds) got the rebound and had an open layup, but it rolled off the rim with nine seconds to go.
The Torreys were 10 of 20 from the free throw line, and one of five in the last 3:05, while St. Patrick/St. Vincent converted 20 of 29. From beyond the arc, La Jolla Country Day was one of 11, and the Bruins were five of eight.
The come-from-behind victory was vengeance of a sort for the Bruins, who blew a 14-point halftime lead in last year’s state championship game against Marlborough. This was the school’s first state title, and cut Southern California’s edge in Division IV girls’ games to 15-6.
Sportsmanship Award: Janae Fulcher, La Jolla Country Day; Kateri Grey, St. Patrick/St. Vincent
DIVISION II GIRLS
ARCHBISHOP MITTY (San Jose) def.
MIRA COSTA (Manhattan Beach)
59-49 OT
Lindsay Leo had 17 points as Archbishop Mitty of San Jose outlasted Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach 59-49 in overtime, and won the girls’ Division II state championship for the second straight year.
Classye James had 10 for the Monarchs (22-11), including a clutch three-pointer as the shot clock was running down in overtime, and Hannah Stephens added 12.
Mikah Maly-Karros topped Mira Costa (28-7) with 20 points before fouling out. Megan Richardson had 15, plus 11 rebounds, for the Mustangs, who controlled the game for much of the first half.
Mitty trailed by 10 with 15 seconds to go in the second quarter, but went on a 22-4 run to take a 38-30 lead with 7:27 left in the game. Mira Costa battled back, even though both Maly-Karros and point guard Kylie Nakamine fouled out in the last four minutes. Richardson became the go-to player, and scored four points in the final minute to send Mira Costa into overtime for the fourth straight game. The Mustangs won all three Southern California playoffs in overtime and needed three extra periods to beat Ayala in the regional finals and advance to the state championship game for the first time.
The final dagger for Mira Costa, which has beaten Mitty for the state volleyball championship the last two seasons, was a banked-in 30-footer by Ariel Castillo as the shot clock expired in the final minute of overtime.
The Mustangs hurt themselves at the foul line, going just 13 of 23, and also got little from their bench. Not only did the starters score all the points, they took every shot for Mira Costa.
The state championship was the fourth for Mitty in eight tries, and gives Northern California a 14-13 edge in girls’ Division II title games.
Sportsmanship Award: Keri Stephanoff, Mira Costa; Ashley Watson, Archbishop Mitty
DIVISION II BOYS
MATER DEI (Santa Ana) def. ARCHBISHOP MITTY (San Jose) 65-53
Andy Brown scored 13 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as Mater Dei of Santa Ana outlasted Archbishop Mitty of San Jose, 65-53, to win its second straight boys’ Division II state championship .
David Wear added 14 for Mater Dei (35-1), which was ranked 13th in the nation and sixth in the state by Rivals.com, and Gary Franklin had 10.
Collin Chiverton scored 17 for Mitty (32-2), which was ranked sixth in the country and first in the state. Drew Gordon had 16 points and 12 rebounds for Mitty, and Eric Andoh scored 12.
Chiverton was one of three players who fouled out in a game that had no real rhythm due to 52 total fouls, 49 free throws, three technicals and one intentional foul.
Mater Dei jumped out to an 8-0 lead, and though Mitty managed to get within three a couple of times, a 6-0 run in the last 1:24 of the second quarter gave Mater Dei a 34-24 edge at halftime. Mitty shot just 25% from the field in the first two quarters but stayed in the game by making 12 of 13 from the foul line.
Mater Dei maintained that 10-point lead going into the fourth quarter, but Andoh caught fire, scoring seven points in the first 1:39 -- and when Chiverton converted a steal into a spectacular reverse, no-backboard layup, Mitty pulled within two, 45-43, for the first time since the first minute. Gordon then followed his own miss to tie it, and the game see-sawed back and forth until the final minute, when Mater Dei took control.
This was Mater Dei’s 11th trip to the state finals, and its seventh title. Mitty is 0-2. Southern California has a 19-7 advantage in boys’ Division II championship games.
Sportsmanship Award: Andy Brown, Mater Dei; Chris Weber, Archbishop Mitty
DIVISION V GIRLS
BRANSON (Ross) def. MISSION PREP (San Luis Obispo) 51-39
Rachael Bilney had 23 points, five steals and three assists to lead Branson of Ross past Mission Prep of San Luis Obispo, 51-39, in the Division V girls’ state championship. Samantha Bilney, Rachael’s twin, had 11 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls (28-7), who won their second straight title. Michela Bestwick, a senior like the Bilney twins, added 10.
Leigh Yetter led Misson Prep (27-5) with 18 points, but the Royals never led. They got within five points at 22-17, but Branson went on a 17-3 run and the game never got closer than double-digits thereafter.
Neither team shot well from the field, but the Bulls converted 23 of 30 free throws and forced 24 Mission Prep turnovers. Branson also continued the domination of Northern California in Division V girls. The north has now won 17 of the 21 Division V title games.
Sportsmanship Award: Jenna Caruso, Mission Prep; Sam Bilney, Branson
DIVISION V BOYS
BRANSON (Ross) def. RENAISSANCE (La Canada) 40-33
Curtis Elijah scored 11 points, including the first five of the fourth quarter, to spark Branson of Ross past Renaissance of La Canada, 40-33, in the boys’ Division V state title game.
Oliver McNally added 10 for the Bulls (32-3), who won their third straight California championship in coach Jonas Honick’s final game after 26 years at Branson.
Josh Thomas topped the Wildcats (27-4) with 11 points and Tremaine Tatum had 10.
Renaissance, a school with 105 students from kindergarten through 12th grade, was making its first appearance in a state title game.
Branson led by only three with 1:28 remaining the third quarter, but then held Renaissance without a basket for the next 7:03. Elijah opened the fourth quarter with a high-arching three-pointer that just beat the shot clock, and then added a layup with 6:12 left to put the Bulls up 36-26. Neither team could score for the next 3:47, and by then, it was too late for the Wildcats to make up the 10-point deficit.
The win gives Northern California an 12-9 edge in D V boys’ championship games.
Sportsmanship Award: Justin Cook, Renaissance; Kalome Akhile, Branson
DIVISION III GIRLS
SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL (San Francisco) def.
MAGNOLIA (Anaheim) 48-33
Kamilah Jackson scored 17 points and grabbed 17 rebounds as the No. 1 team in the nation, Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco, won its third straight girls' Division III state championship by defeating Magnolia of Anaheim, 48-33.
Jazmine Jackson, Kamilah's sister, had 13 points for the Irish (33-0), as did Tierra Rogers. The Irish finished the year with a 56-game winning streak.
Brianna Colon led Magnolia (27-7) with 11 points, as the Sentinels battled the nation's top-ranked team on even terms through most of the game.
After falling behind 5-0, Magnolia took its only lead of the game at 15-13, and was within four going into the fourth quarter.
But Kamilah Jackson, playing with four fouls, had four points in the first minute of the final quarter, and the Irish pulled away from there.
Kamilah Jackson's 17 rebounds tied a girls' Division III state finals record.
The physical, defense-first game was heavy on fouls and free throws. Four Magnolia starters fouled out, and Sacred Heart Cathedral converted 24 of 34 free throws.
No other Northern California team has finished the season number one in the nation.
Sportsmanship Award: Latrice Henderson, Magnolia; Jazmine Jackson, Sacred Heart Cathedral
DIVISION III BOYS
SANTA MARGARITA (Rancho Santa Margarita) def. SACRAMENTO 72-55
Klay Thompson tied a California state finals record with 37 points, and set another with seven three-pointers, as Santa Margarita of Rancho Santa Margarita beat Sacramento 72-55 to win the boys’ Division III state championship.
Thompson tied the Division III record for most points with 37, though Tracy Murray holds the overall record with 64 for Glendora (Division II) in 1989. The seven three-pointers, however, is the most by any player, male or female, in any division in a state championship game.
Thompson was seven of 11 from beyond the arc and 14 of 22 overall en route to his 37 points for the Eagles (30-5). Zack Zaragoza had 13.
Chase Tapley also had a spectacular game, scoring 35 points for the Dragons (30-4). At one point, Tapley had 32 of his team’s 42 points, and single-handedly kept Sacramento in the game. He was 14 of 30 from the floor, and added nine rebounds.
The Eagles, though, led tip to horn, and though the Dragons made several spirited runs, they were never able to get within 10.
The win gives Southern California a 14-12 advantage in Division III boys’ championship games.
Sportsmanship Award: Jason Pancoe, Santa Margarita; Travon Abraham, Sacramento
DIVISION I GIRLS
POLY (Long Beach) def. BERKELEY 55-31
Jasmine Dixon scored 17 points to lead Long Beach Poly to its third straight state Division I girls’ basketball championship as the Jackrabbits downed Berkeley, 55-31.
April Cook added 12 for Poly (30-2), ranked second in the country by Sports Illustrated, and Thaddesia Southall had 10. Both Cook and Southall are sophomores, and Dixon was the only senior starter for Poly.
Camila Rosen led Berkeley (30-4) with 15 points, but the Yellowjackets were stymied by Poly’s harassing defense.
Berkeley stayed with Poly for the first five minutes, but a 22-3 run blew the game open. With a 35-17 lead heading into the third quarter, the Jackrabbits came out flat, and didn’t score for the first 4:58 -- but the Yellowjackets had managed only five points during that span. Then Poly finished the quarter with a rush and led by 21 heading into the final period.
Poly’s girls were the only ones from Southern California to win a 2008 state championship, and Northern California schools have a 65-56 overall edge in girls’ titles, even though Southern California teams have won 18 of the 26 Division I championships.
Sportsmanship Award: Brittany Wilson, Long Beach Poly; Camila Rosen, Berkeley
DIVISION I BOYS
McCLYMONDS (Oakland) def. DOMINGUEZ (Compton) 73-54
William Cherry had 19 points, eight assists and four steals to lead McClymonds of Oakland past Dominguez of Compton, 73-54, and win the boys' Division I state championship.
Damon Powell scored 18 points for the Warriors (32-0), who were ranked 19th in the nation by Rivals.com prior to the game, and Damario Sims had 16. Powell punctuated his scoring with several thunderous dunks, and both Sims and Cherry completed more than one acrobatic attack on the basket.
Jordan Hamilton led Dominguez (32-3) with 20 points, including two NBA-distance three-pointers, but the Dons shot just 32 percent from the field, and allowed Mack to hit 47 percent of its attempts.
The game was the last one for McClymonds coach Dwight Nathaniel, and also was redemption for the Warriors, who scored just 29 points in the state final a year ago. They matched that total in the second quarter, in the midst of a 10-0 run that put the Oakland school ahead for good.
Mack extended the lead to eight at the start of the third quarter, and then used an 8-0 run at the beginning of the fourth period to build a 57-43 cushion. The Warriors then pulled away down the stretch to win their first state championship.
Counting all boys' state championships, Southern California has a 28-11 edge over Northern California; tracking just the modern version, the margin is 21-7.
Sportsmanship Award: Myron Green, Dominguez; Frank Otis, McClymonds
recaps courtesy of Clay Kallam