Simply earlier than pregame participant introductions Saturday evening, Juju Watkins all of the sudden sprinted to the Chatsworth Sierra Canyon locker room as if she have been operating for Olympic gold.
Even the very best of the very best have momentary reminiscence lapses, similar to forgetting to placed on their uniform jersey below their warmup shirt. She got here dashing again, smiling and laughing.
Watkins went on to attain 23 factors in an all-around efficiency that helped propel Sierra Canyon to an 80-53 victory over Corona Centennial and ship the Trailblazers (26-1) into Friday’s Southern Part Open Division championship recreation in opposition to unbeaten Etiwanda (27-0).
MacKenly Randolph contributed 22 factors, however the participant who stepped ahead when Sierra Canyon confronted its most uncomfortable second was sophomore guard Christy Reynoso.
Centennial (25-6) had lower a 15-point deficit within the third quarter to 47-43. Watkins was on the bench with three fouls. Who was going to assist Sierra Canyon cease Centennial’s momentum?
It turned out to be Reynoso, who made three three-pointers, together with a financial institution shot on the buzzer. Centennial by no means threatened once more.
“Issues didn’t look good,” Watkins mentioned. “We wanted these threes at crunch time.”
“She’s been ready for her probability to contribute,” Sierra Canyon coach Alicia Komaki mentioned of Reynoso.
Komaki mentioned she knew the sport would contain a collection of runs, and if her crew may maintain consistency, it might prevail in opposition to the defending regional champion. Sydni Summers led Centennial with 13 factors. Izela Arenas of Sierra Canyon did a superb job defending Centennial’s Londynn Jones, who completed with 11 factors after averaging 25 factors this season.
Now comes every week of observe to organize for an Etiwanda crew that has confronted few challenges all season. Etiwanda defeated Santa Ana Mater Dei 64-53. You may count on Komaki to present her former boss, Mater Dei coach Kevin Kiernan, a cellphone name to debate Etiwanda.
“They've essentially the most full crew I’ve seen in years,” Centennial coach Martin Woods mentioned of the Eagles.
However Sierra Canyon has Watkins and a gaggle of younger, bettering sophomores who're desirous to play of their first championship recreation.
In Division 1, top-seeded Camarillo (28-1) needed to rally on the street to drag out a 63-59 victory over North Torrance to advance to Wednesday’s semifinals in opposition to West Hills Chaminade. UCLA-bound Gabriela Jaquez scored 33 factors. Chaminade secured a 75-64 win over Oxnard. Jessa Thurman scored 26 factors and had 13 rebounds.
Ladies’ water polo
Newport Harbor 11, Laguna Seashore 6: Avery Montiel scored 4 targets to guide the Sailors to the Southern Part Open Division championship in ladies’ water polo. Newport Harbor additionally gained the boys’ water polo title.
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