First published in the Feb. 24 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
The La Cañada High School varsity girls’ basketball team was eliminated from the CIF-SS Division 3AA playoffs after losing to Canyon High of Canyon Country, 44-29, in a second-round game last Wednesday, Feb. 16.
Junior Mia Oakley-Stilson and freshman Jennifer Musso led the Spartans with nine and eight points, respectively, while senior Kylie Sears tallied five points. Senior Rachel Kim notched four points, sophomore Andrianna Pitsos had two and senior Hailey Tamara finished with one.
La Cañada concluded the season third in the Rio Hondo League with a 7-3 record (15-7 overall). The Spartans will look to rebound next season and claim their first CIF title in school history.
FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART
In a heated CIF-SS Division 4A matchup, the Tologs lost to visiting San Bernardino Aquinas, 50-43, on Saturday evening. Despite the loss, the Tologs reached the quarterfinals for the first time in eight years, according to head coach Ty Buxman.
Senior Faith Ellis led FSHA with a team-high nine points and seven rebounds, while freshman Ava Nawrocki posted eight points, 10 boards and two steals.
“Faith has been solid for us all year,” Buxman said. “She’s just been the rock for this team and I can’t say enough about that kid. She just always knows where to go and what to do and just puts everything on the court. I expect nothing less than what we saw tonight.”
Junior Sophia Heredia collected eight points, five rebounds, three steals and three assists. Senior Isabella Cao registered seven points and three steals, while junior Celina Maduka tallied six points and 11 boards. Junior Meghan Garrity and sophomore Isabel Risha finished with four and one points, respectively, while the former added three steals.
“It was a good season for us; we made a little run but a loss at the end of the year is always disappointing,” Buxman said. “This is a team that has been really close and really tight, and I wouldn’t trade this team for anything right now.”
FSHA defeated Lakeside High in Lake Elsinore, 45-23, in a second-round game on Feb. 16. Nawrocki poured in a team-high 14 points, Heredia scored 11 points, and Ellis and Maduka each registered 10 points.
FSHA routed host St. Monica Academy of Montrose, 77-18, in a first-round playoff game on Feb. 12 as four Tologs scored in double figures. Ellis posted a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds while Garrity led in scoring with 13 points. Nawrocki collected 12 points and five boards, Heredia scored 10 points, and senior Angelina Cao registered nine points. Maduka and junior Jazmin Jones each finished with four points, seniors Isabella Cao and Sofia Parker each had three points, and Risha tallied two points.
The Tologs finished as Sunshine League runners-up with a 4-4 record (13-10 overall).
