Cajon-Long Beach Poly girls bball CIF title game: March 2009 Archives

The one in the paper is a quoteless, shorter version due to deadlines, but this one can be found at www.sbsun.com/sports as well as here.

Darshae Burnside wrapped up Cajon's second straight CIF title in fitting fashion, nailing two free throws and blocking her sixth shot of the game at the end of the 52-44 victory. The victory breaks Poly's 34-game playoff winning streak. Cajon was led by Layshia Clarendon's 28 points.

More to come.

The Cowgirls are continuing to roll, forcing the Jackrabbits to shoot unsuccessfully from the outside en route to the 12-point lead. Layshia Clarendon has 23 points now, including a runner with 8.6 seconds left that put Cajon up 39-27.

Darshae Burnside now has 15 points and four blocked shots to go with her six points, but she committed her fourth foul late in the third. Poly, after starting the quarter strong, didn't score for the final 4:21 of the period.

The Jackrabbits have come out of halftime inspired, closing Cajon's lead to 30-25 with 5:37 left in the third. Thaddesia Southall has scored four of the points for Poly. Cajon called a timeout after Poly's last basket, got a 3-pointer from Maya Darby, which caused Poly to use its own 30-second timeout.

33-25 Cajon, 5:20 left in the third.

The Cowboys played about as well in the first half as could have been expected, taking an 11-point lead at halftime despite playing all five of its starters for all but 11.9 seconds of the first half.
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Layshia Clarendon has 19 points and three rebounds unofficially while Darshae Burnside has four points, nine rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals. Poly's offense is coming from Ta'Nitra Byrd, who has 14 of Poly's 19 points. Turnovers have been an issue for the Jackrabbits, who have 11.

Stay tuned to see if this upset continues.

The Cowboy defense has successfully harassed the Jackrabbits, forcing them into 10 turnovers at this juncture. Darshae Burnside also has three blocked shots.

Offensively, Clarendon has 14 points, including a gutty 3-point play at the 4:03 mark that gave Cajon its current 23-15 lead.

The senior guard just drilled a 35-footer as the buzzer sounded to end the first quarter, giving Cajon a 16-11 lead. Clarendon has nine points to lead the Cowgirls while Darshae Burnside has two points, five rebounds and two blocked shots unofficially.

Second quarter about to start

However, both Clarendon and Burnside have two fouls each at this point. Four Cowgirls have scored, with Clarendon leading the way with four and Maya Darby hitting a 3-pointer. Burnside

Junior Ta'Nitra Byrd has eight of Poly's nine points.

however, Cajon is up 6-0 with 5:07 left in the first quarter and Poly has called timeout.

Clarendon has hit two early jumpers, Poly has two early turnovers and Darshae Burnside has two points, two rebounds and just stuffed Poly's McDonald's All-American forward Monique Oliver on Poly's previous possession.

almost kills my computer. Obviously the game has started.

I'm here live at the Division I-AA final between Cajon and Long Beach Poly. It was a bit of a harrowing journey and I wouldn't be surprised if my car ends up towed, but I'm here.

6 minutes and counting until game time so I'll be brief. Basically, Poly is Goliath and Cajon is David - if David had two sweet Division I players in guard Layshia Clarendon and center Darshae Burnside in his arsenal. Poly has won three straight large-school state titles, four straight CIF titles (off the top of my head) and 34 playoff games in a row. They boast a McDonald's All-American in 6-foot-3 Monique Oliver.

However, Cajon has won its four playoff games by an average of 34.2 points per game and is playing as well as it has all season. And its no stranger to playoff pressure, having won the Division II-A CIF title a year ago.

I'll keep you updated as the game rolls on.