SACRAMENTO - A huge crowd, in what seemed like a McClatchy home game, saw Windward win its second CIF title in school history, as they defeated McClatchy 53-41 at the new home Sacramento Kings' Golden 1 Center on Friday night.
Windward would go on a second half run as they went on a 14-2 run to break the game wide open. Charisma Osborne would score five points during the run, including three the old fashioned way. The next possession, Corona would earn a three point play herself, and then Selea Kay would finish it off with six points, a three and another and-one.
"I'm so proud of my girls. This was a game to celebrate our entire season. They get all the credit in the world," said Windward coach Vanessa Nygaand.
"That run really hurt us and proved to be the difference maker," said Lions coach Jeff Ota.
Osborne would score all nine of Windward's points in the opening quarter. Sprinkled in between were buckets by Jordan Cruz and Kamari Donald. The Wildcats were able to penetrate and were able to dish to Osborne for baskets.
"Most of my points tonight came off assists. It's not like I came in trying to score all the points, my team was able to find me through good ball movement," said Osborne.
The second period began with back and forth scoring from both sides. Courtesy Clark began the scoring for the Lions, splitting a pair of free throws on consecutive trips. Osborne continued her hot shooting as she scored four more point, as Windward led 17-13 midway through the period. The Lions would come back and eventually tie the game late in the period, but Kay hit a pair at the charity stripe and took Windward to a five-point halftime lead.
McClatchy won the third period. Cruz was trying to get the Lions back in the game with four of her 11 points in the quarter. Osborne and Collins kept the pressure on with buckets to answer the Lion run. McClatchy would tie the game twice in the quarter, but failed both times to take a lead.
"It was definitely frustrating. If we had some better ball movement, I felt we would've had a better chance," said Cruz after the game.
McClatchy tied the game six times, but never took a lead. Windward led 28-16 in points in the paint and 12-6 on second chance points, helping to put the game away and clinch the CIF championship.
