Tiny Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth, in just its third season of basketball has qualified for the schools first ever section final, in Div. V-A. The senior-less team escaped Saturday night, holding on against Bishop Conaty-Loretto of Los Angeles, 45-44 in a semifinal game played at Salesian High.
“It has been an absolute Cinderella run for the team”, coach Jim Gortikov said. “There is a big buzz about the program now in the community”.
The Trail Blazers (22-4) held a 12 point lead in the fourth quarter but saw it dwindle down to the final margin and escaped when Bishop Conaty-Loretto’s Mariana Palma missed a short jumper in the paint with under six seconds remaining.
Junior Brenda Kramer was especially impressive with 19 points, 15 rebounds and four steals. Kramer was out on the floor without key players Kelly Schneider and Jasmine Sneed, who both fouled out.
“I have coached Brenda a long time, for almost seven years now”, Gortikov said. “She is court mature, has a quick step, can box out and has great shooting range. She was huge for us Saturday night”.
Even more impressive is the fact Sierra Canyon has weathered the loss of two starters in mid-season.
Lauren Alas left the team for personal reasons and freshman Victoria Wells, who was averaging 12 points and was the teams best defender according to Gortikov, moved to Hemet.
“The girls are so young they just roll with the punches. They are not nervous about anything. We have some outstanding freshman, great chemistry, great work ethic, a killer instinct and for some reason are always incredibly loose. I don’t know how to explain it myself”.
The Trail Blazers face league rival Crossroads of Santa Monica for a third time either Friday or Saturday in the championship game. Sierra Canyon lost both games to the Roadrunners this season hoping to reverse the trend this weekend.
“We made some mistakes the first two games”, Gortikov said. “We definitely have given up too many points to Crossroads. We are making some real big adjustments this week and will be taking a different approach. We will give it the old college try”.
Chatsworth has advanced to the City championship game Saturday at the Sports Arena against No. 3 Narbonne of Harbor City.
The game is especially meaningful for head coach Michelle Chevalier. Chevalier lost to Narbonne in the title game in 2004 when she coached at Sylmar.
“I can’t wait for the game,” Chevalier said by phone Monday. “I have wanted them since back in November when we started practice. It would be very satisfying to knock Narbonne off. I owe them from 2004. Four years off frustration would be lifted off of me. We have the team to do it. It is going to be a great day”.
Seven southern section championship games are set for this weekend. The three remaining divisions will be decided tonight. Of the seven divisions already set, five pit teams from the same league playing each other a third time.
It might be time to revamp the playoff structure to create a little more parity throughout the divisions.
Div. III-A: No. 1 Colony (Mt. Baldy #1) vs. No. 3 Chaffey (Mt. Baldy #3)
Div. IV-AA: No. 1 St. Mary’s Acad. (Santa Cruz #1) vs. No. 2 Bell-Jeff (Santa Cruz #2)
Div. IV-A: No. 1 Laguna Hills (Pacific Coast #1) vs. No. 3 University (Pacific Coast #2)
Div. V-AA: No. 1 Whittier Christian (Alpha #1) vs. No. 2 Maranatha (Alpha #2)
Div. V-A: No. 1 Crossroads (Delphic #1) vs. No. 3 Sierra Canyon (Delphic #2)
