East County Sports

Dons stop Pats with title-like effort

SIMONE JAMES backs down a Dons opponent on Wednesday. / photo by Ramon Scott
SIMONE JAMES boxes out on Wednesday night in the San Diego CIF Open Division semifinal at Cathedral Catholic. / photo by Ramon Scott

2019 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL

CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC 79, CHRISTIAN 71

EastCountySports.com staff report

SAN DIEGO – The Cathedral Catholic Dons celebrated on the court like champions following their 79-71 San Diego CIF Open Division semifinal win over the visiting Christian High Patriots on Wednesday night.

And why shouldn’t they? The Dons had just defeated a tremendously formidable opponent in the Patriots to advance to the elite division championship game.

Christian High coach VICKIE CARRINGTON and the Patriots’ coaching staff. / photo by Ramon Scott

It was the second win in three meetings for CCHS this season between the Western League co-champions.

The quality of play was as high as you might expect, and the players on both clubs even raised their level of honest competitiveness even higher.

Christian got off to a rip-roaring start behind sophomore KRISTIN WILLIAMS and junior SIMONE JAMES.

Williams had nine points in the opening eight minutes, while James added three field goals, as Christian took a 15-7 lead. However, the Dons led 24-19 after one quarter.

Cathedral Catholic’s lineup, however, is tough to stop for any club in the county. The Dons built a 10-point lead, 45-35, by halftime.

The Dons encountered some foul trouble in the third quarter and the Patriots went to work.

Christian High’s ALLIE CARREON scored 11 points in the third quarter, then made a three-pointer in the fourth which tied the game at 68-all.

Christian High senior YESI SMITH brings the ball up on Wednesday. / photo by Ramon Scott

Cathedral’s freshman star, Isuneh Brady, returned to the game to score the go-ahead bucket, helping the Dons outscore Christian, 11-3, down the stretch.

Carreon finished with 21 points, while Williams ended with 20 points.

Christian (21-9) will still advance to the Southern California Regionals.

The Dons will meet third-seeded Mission Hills, which defeated No. 2-seeded La Jolla Country Day.

But it would be hard to argue that the county’s best two teams were on the floor at Cathedral’s gym on Wednesday.

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