DUBLIN, Calif. – The teams expected to face off in the Platinum Division championship game in the 23rd West Coast Jamboree went pretty much as expected after Cal-Hi Sports No. 2 Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth defeated No. 5 Sage Hill-Newport Beach and No. 7 Folsom was a winner over No. 17 St. Joseph-Santa Maria in their respective semifinals, both on Thursday night at Dublin High.
With the victories the Platinum title tilt will be a Southern California versus Northern California match-up that should delight girls basketball fans throughout the Golden State.
The nightcap of the second day of the Jamboree saw Sierra Canyon (13-1) jump out to a 6-0 lead it never relinquished in an impressive 81-57 victory.
Sophomore Jerzy Robinson, a transfer from Arizona Desert Vista-Phoenix, where she led that team to an Arizona large school state championship as a freshman, had some great games to start the season against California teams. However, in some respects it was a Golden State coming out party for the 6-1 Robinson after she flashed some real dominance against one of the state’s top teams after finishing with a solid double-double 19 points and 13 rebounds with two assists and two steals.
Senior Mackenly Randolph, who at 6-0 can play anywhere on the floor, finished with a game high 25 points with eight rebounds and five assists. Louisville-committed senior guard Izela Arenas added 15 points, three assists and three steals. Another Trailblazer, 6-5 sophomore post, turned some heads with size, soft hands, and an ability to use the glass to finish with a double-double 13 points, including a three-pointers, plus 12 rebounds and three blocked shots.
Sage Hill (10-2) got a game high 31 points (four three-pointers) from sophomore sensation Amalia Holquin, but only two points came in first quarter defensive slugfest that saw Sage Hill with a 13-6 deficit. Senior Kat Righeimer added 10 points but senior and leading scorer Emily Eadie was held to five points.
Trailing 24-19 early in the second quarter the game was still within reach of Sage Hill but an 11-3 run by Sierra Canyon to make it 35-22 at the half pretty much sealed things for the Trailblazers.
Sierra Canyon will now face Folsom in the championship game on Saturday at 7:30pm at Dublin High
Folsom 68, St. Joseph-Santa Maria 60
Folsom (10-2) fell behind 15-3 early but a 14-1 run got them back to a 17-16 deficit after one quarter.
From there the game was back and forth until a 13-2 third quarter run by Cal-Hi Sports No. 7 ranked Folsom made it 48-39 after the game was tied 36-36, and from there the Bulldogs were able to hold off the scrappy No. 17 ranked Knights.
Folsom’s Cal-bound senior Kamryn Mafua turned in a solid performance after finishing with a double-double 22 points and 10 rebounds with 18 points, including two three-pointers, and eight rebounds coming in the second half when she dominated in the paint.
Bulldogs senior guard Ella Uriarte nailed two three-pointers and added 12 points with four assists and two steals, junior Dixie McLanahan also had two three-pointers and added 10 points with four rebounds.
St. Joseph (10-3) was led by Avery Cain. The UCLA-bound senior dazzled the crowd with her slick moves. She finished with 24 points (two three-pointers, five rebound and three assists. Senior Kai Oani connected on four three-pointers and added 16 points with three assists and three steals.
Folsom meets Sierra Canyon on Saturday at 7:30 in the Platinum title game while St. Joseph squares off with Sage Hill at 3pm in the third-place game. Both are at Dublin High.
Oakland Tech 59, Edge (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) 52
A shorthanded Oakland Tech team that tired in a first round 64-50 loss to Sage Hill looked rejuvenated against the Canadian girls in what some come consider an upset of one of the top teams in Canada.
Sophomore phenom Jhai Johnson led three Oakland Tech players in double-figure scoring with 25 points. Sophomore standout Terri’A Russell added 17 points and senior guard Jordan Taylor gave the bulldogs a spark with her outside shooting after draining four three-pointers to finish with 24 points
Oakland Tech (6-7) will look to get its record back to .500 when it faces Rosary Academy-Fullerton in the Consolation Championship.
Rosary (11-3) was a 74-40 winner over West Campus-Sacramento behind 28 points (four three-pointers) from senior Allison Clarke.
