OAKLAND, CA – The 4th Annual Elite Showcase at Laney College was a showcase indeed, as top talent was on display and almost every game over the two-day period was decided by less than 10 points.
Cardinal Newman outlasts Eastside College Prep
In a match-up of State Champions, Cardinal Newman eked out a 48-46 win over Eastside College Prep. Maiya Flores had the decisive basket, a three-pointer from the corner with a little over two minutes to go, and the defense partially blocked Kayla Tahaafe’s three-point attempt in the waning seconds.
Flores had a team-high 13 points, followed by Lauren Walker with 11. The short bench of Anya Choice and Taylor Hextrum chipped in 13 combined as the Cardinals completed a sweep of the event, having throttled Oak Ridge 60-29 the previous evening.
“Yesterday was a lot prettier,” Cardinal Newman coach Monica Mertle said. “But that was a different type of game. Being able to adjust from one night to the next to two completely different styles of play is a challenge.”
Zion Gabriel poured in 21 for the Panthers, with 15 of them coming in the second half. She engineered a fervent comeback in the third quarter, turning a six-point halftime deficit into a one-point advantage to start the fourth. Tahaafe also reached double figures, with 10.
Eastside Prep coach Donovan Blythe talked about Gabriel’s maturity. “I told her people know you’re a shooter,” he said. “Now you gotta add being able to get to the basket. We worked on that every day.”
Both coaches appreciated the high level of competition.
“We always know we’re in for a battle,” Mertle said.
“They didn’t disappoint the fans,” Blythe remarked, adding “seven-eight years from now I’ll be in my rocking chair and put in the DVD.”
Oak Ridge nips St. Ignatius
Kassidy De Lapp netted 10 of her 14 points in the final frame, and Bri Gross had a clinching free throw as Oak Ridge came out on top over St. Ignatius, 64-62. A back-and-forth affair saw the Trojans gain steam in the second quarter, cool down in the third, and reignite when it mattered most—the fourth quarter. Ayzhiana Basallo, Rachel Harvey, and Alyssa Downs had 13, 12, and 11 points respectively for the Wildcats.
Harvey, a freshman guard, rattled off seven of her total in the third, but De Lapp went to work down low to power the comeback. She finished with nine rebounds. The Trojans made many trips to the charity stripe, tallying nearly half of their 20 fourth quarter points on free throws.
Basallo made it 62-60 Oak Ridge with just under a minute to go, but De Lapp came up with a huge offensive rebound, was fouled, and made one of two free throws. After a missed bucket by St. Ignatius, Gross was fouled and made one of two as well. A last second layup by Madelene Ennis created the final margin.
Vanden tops Valley Christian
Vanden star Julia Blackshell-Fair proved why she’s one of the top seniors in the nation, leading the Vikings with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists in a 52-43 victory over Valley Christian-San Jose. Myli Martinez sparkled for the Vikings as well, draining five three-pointers and finishing with 17.
Nyah Willis paced the Warriors with 13 points, while 5’9” guard Kyanna Davis corralled 13 rebounds to go along with her seven points.
Blackshell-Fair, a University of Houston commit, tacked on a few steals and blocks onto her total. She had all nine of Vanden’s first quarter points, and netted four free throws in the fourth. The Vikings held only a one-point lead at the half, but outscored the Warriors 15-9 in a critical third period.
Southridge holds back Sacramento
Making the trip from out of state, Southridge (Ore.) capped Sacramento 58-51. Freshman Cameron Brink, standing at 6’4”, dominated with 19 points, 14 rebounds, six blocks, and three steals. But with Brink on the bench with foul trouble for much of the second half, it was junior Natalie Hoff and another freshman, McKelle Meek, who stepped up big. Hoff tallied 16 points and 10 boards, and Meek added 13 points. The pair accounted for 19 of Southridge’s 34 second half points.
Sacramento started the third quarter in front 26-24. The Dragons’ Anna Blount went on a mini-tear, racking up seven quick points. But the Skyhawks seemed to have answer almost every time, and took a one-point advantage into the final period.
Brink fouled out with several minutes to go, but Southridge converted seven of eight free throw attempts in the final 1:40 to keep the Dragons at bay. Maggie Freeman and Meek had four free throws apiece in the fourth quarter.
RyAnne Walters led Sacramento with 16, while Blount added nine and Serina McMillan chipped in eight, all in the first quarter.
Williams, Presentation sink St. Joseph Notre Dame
Ava Williams scored at the buzzer to give Presentation a 38-36 victory over St. Joseph Notre Dame. Both teams struggled to score early on, and at the half it was only 12-10 in favor of the Panthers. When Presentation big Nichole Streete went down with an injury, Williams responded. She finished with 14 points—10 in the second half—and 11 rebounds.
“I like to anticipate the ball,” Williams said about the final play. “I didn’t feel rushed. My instinct was to go straight up to the basket.”
Pilots freshman Malia Mastora fueled a late run with five of six points that put her team ahead 36-34 with a minute remaining, and a scoop shot by Stephanie Gallis tied it with 36 seconds to go. A couple of plays later, Williams stole a pass on the Panthers’ end of the court, maneuvered down low, and put up a short floater that took a shooters’ roll into the hoop as the buzzer sounded.
Mastora tallied 12 points, seven rebounds, five steals, and three blocks, and Kayla Nunn also chipped in 12 points to go along with 12 rebounds and three blocks, for the Pilots.
Saint Francis routs Bradshaw Christian
Adriana Frazier scored 25 points, Lydia Foust added 22, and Paige Uyehara tacked on 11 as the Saint Francis Lancers defeated Bradshaw Christian 73-43. The trio combined for 44 points alone in the first half, spearheading a 50-15 advantage.
McClatchy 69, Lynwood (SoCal) 43
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Berkeley 58, Lynwood (SoCal) 55
Cardinal Newman 60, Oak Ridge 29
Eastside College Prep 44, Sacramento 39
Valley Christian-San Jose 67, Bradshaw Christian 31
