CIFSDS Prep Girls Hoops: Knights in OT

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: February 25, 2025

CIF-SAN DIEGO SECTION GIRLS BASKETBALL
CIF San Diego Section Championships

East County Sports.com

Semifinals

Tue., Feb. 25 – Division 5-AA
Foothills Christian 28, San Diego Academy 26 (OT)

EMERALD – Foothills Christian jujior guard Audree Coon tallied a game-best 17 points, including the opening basket in overtime, allowing the Knights to advance to advance to the CIFSDS Division 5-A championship game after nipping San Diego Academy, 28-26, Tuesday (Feb. 25) Bostonia Global’s Lobo Nation Arena.

Coon scored on a putback after an offensive rebound, but the Cavaliers answered on a bucket by Micha Katula.

However, Knights guard Jay King nailed a short jumper with about 100 seconds remaining for the game-winning shot.

King finished with 6 points, while teammate Kate Botticelli, a senior swing performer, collected the team’s remaining five points.

Obviously, the final 1 1/2 minutes came down to the defense.

“There was some defense in the game — but it was fun,” sasid Knights coach Angela Davis.

“We kept making defensive adjustments and the team came together with a great effort,” added the third-year coach. “It was absolutely one of our best defensive efforts of the season.”

San Diego Academy also was credited with solid defense, but the Knights excelled through the challenge.

:San Diego Academy placed a lot of pressure on our girls, but we were able to work together, showing up on our own defensive side.”

For the Cavaliers (13-6 overall), Micha Katula led with 7 points.

Foothilld Christian advances to Thursday’s (Feb. 27) championship contest to be held at MiraCosta College in Oceanside.

The Knights (13-5 overall) co-champions of the Ocean League, wil meet the winner between SET (School for Entrepreneurship & Technology) The Lions upset the top-ranked Warner Wildcats, 31-30, in Warner Springs. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.

‘- Compiled by Nick Pellegrino, ECS Senior writer

Quarterfinals

SCORES posted below stories

Division 3
Christian 60, Mission Vista 41

EL CAJON – The top-seeded Christian Patriots raced to a fast 12-0 lead, cruising past the Mission Vista Timberwolves in the quarterfinals of the CIF-San Diego Section championships.

The one-sded affair saw the C-Pats (22-4 overall) in front, 17-4, through the first period, rolling to their 16th consecutive victory,

The Division 3 semifinals will be held Wednesday (Feb. 26_, as Christian hosts La Jolla at Ryan Athletic Center, starting at 7 p.m.

The other Final Four match-up finds El Centro-Central playing at Escondido Charter.

Elsewhere

Harper Diaz

The remaining Final Four bllgames featuring East County schools will all be played on Tuesday (Feb. 25).

In Division 4, El Cajon Valley, which downed Canyon Hills, 50-24, plays at top-seeded Escondido.

In Division 5, second-seeded Santana, which pummeled San Pasqual, 41-12, will entertain the Falcons of Mabel O’Farrell Charter.

The Sultans’ Harper Diaz registered a game-best 18 points, as Santana jumped to a football-like halftime lead of 21-7, then shutout the Golden Eagles in the third period for a 31-7 cushion.

In Division 4-AA, Foothills Christian, which is also a secomnd-seed, will play host to San Diego Academy of National City. The time and site will be posted HERE.

The Knights are coming off a 64-11 eomp over Chula Vista Learning Centre.

First Round

West Hills 48, Granite Hills 21

Jordan Dillon

SANTEE – Grossmont Valley League champion West Hills proved ready for promotion to the Grossmont Hills League after whipping Granite Hills, 48-21, in Wednesday’s (Feb. 19) opening rounf othe CIF-San Diego Section Division 2 playoffs on Wednesday (Feb. 19).

The Wolf Pack, seeded sixth, took a 27-14 halftime lead before clearing their bench.

Senior forward Jordan Dillon, the GVL player of the year, led the way with 25 points.

On the other end of the court, Amber Froehlich, another senior, led with 10 rebounds. The center was also blocked four shot and was second on club socring with 8 points.

Granite Hills was missing defneding state scoring leader Jaylene Hughes, who has missed the previous two weeks since a contest with El Capitan.

The Eagles scoeing leader was senior Shaniyah Smith with seven points.

El Cajon Valley 60, The Rock 41

McKinley Morgan

EL CAJON – El Cajon Valley sophomore guard McKinley Morgan poured home a career-best 254 points, allowing the Braves to roll The Rock, 60-41, in Wedneday’s (Feb.19) CIFSDS Division 4 playoff opener.

Also scoring in double figures for the Bravesd was forward Onnamarie Miller with 12 points. The junior posted a ouble-double by grabbing 10 rebounds, while also securing six steals.

The leading scorers for the Warriors were Nevaeha Noguera (11 points) and Laila Varner (10). Both are juniors.

The Braves, seeded fifth, will next host No. 5 Canyon Hills. The Rattlers advanced by barelt surviving over Hilltop, 39-37.

The ECVHS-Canyon Hills winner will probably face top-seed Patrick Henry in the semifinals. The Patriots slammed Calipatria by 61 points.

Patrick Henry 72, Calipatria 11

SAN CARLOS – A reio of Patrick Henry players — freshman Ayvahlee Ruiz (14 points), Ally Mangahis (13) and Kimora Nears (12) — each singly-handily out-scored the visiting Calipatria Hornets in a CIFSDS Divion 4 romp held Wednesday (Feb. 19).
game was the first (and hopefully last) ever played between the schools.

The last time P{atrick Henry allowed less than 11 points came in 2016-17, when the Pats yielded 8 points.