SAN JOSE, CA – Host and top-seeded Archbishop Mitty-San Jose came into the game nationally-ranked and No. 1 in California by Cal-Hi Sports, and with who many feel is the nation’s top player in Stanford-bound Haley Jones, but fourth-seeded Salesian-Richmond (25-8) hunkered down on defense and came away with a 44-41 Northern Regional Open Division Saturday night upset victory.
The win was similar to a 2016 Open Division first round 70-66 victory by Salesian on the road in San Jose, and reversed a 66-45 loss to Mitty on Jan. 12 at the Elite Is Earned event at Miramonte.
“We could have shot the ball a little better but our defense was really good,” Salesian Coach Stephen Pezzola said.
The defense was so good that Mitty could only muster 15 first half points although Salesian only led 20-15 at halftime.
Another big difference was the play of senior Makayla Edwards. She had one of the best games of her career and it could not have come at a better time after the Hawaii-bound 5-10 forward posted a season-high 23 points on five three-pointers with six rebounds, two assists, one steal and one blocked shot.
“I told Makayla after the game that I’ve been waiting for that for four years,” Pezzola remarked. “She has that talent and that capacity and just played so tough. She did everything tonight.”
USC-bound 6-5 post Angel Jackson had her usual double-double after finishing with 10 points and 14 rebounds.
Jones had a team-high 19 points but none of them came easy. She also had 12 rebounds, four steals, two blocks but only one assist, and she didn’t get a lot of help as no other Monarchs player had more than seven points.
Another problem for Mitty (25-3) that helped end their 22-game winning streak was the Monarchs were only five of 16 from the free-throw line.
Salesian now moves on to the NorCal Open title game against a Pinewood team they’ve split with this season. They lost the first game 47-37 in the title game of the Platinum Division of the West Coast Jamboree, and then won 54-45 a little less than a month later on Jan. 26 at home.
“Angel has been a factor in a most games but in a lot of games it’s been a different player that has stepped up,” Pezzola said. “What I’m looking for in this game against Pinewood is hopefully a game where all the girls have their best game.”
