GIRLS BASKETBALL
CIF-SS PLAYOFFS
DIVISION 1A
ESPERANZA 50, CANTWELL-SACRED HEART OF MARY 42
MONTEBELLO — The Cantwell-Sacred Heart High girls basketball team gave everything it had against Esperanza on Saturday in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoffs.However, it was too little, too late as Esperanza pulled away late in the fourth quarter for a 50-42 win over the Cardinals in a second-round game.The win advances the Aztecs (25-3) to the quarterfinals for the third year in a row, and they will travel to JW North of Riverside on Wednesday.
Cantwell, which lost in the Division 4A title game last year, ends its season at 15-14.
Leading the way for Cantwell was senior guard Lily Perkins with a game-high 19 points. The Aztecs were led by freshman guard Katie Kubo with 15 points, including three 3-ponters.
Sophomore forwards Sarah Youssouf and Samantha Fries added nine points each for Esperanza.
After trailing for most of the first three quarters, the Cardinals tied the score 33-33 early in the fourth quarter, but a missed Cantwell layup and back-to-back 3-pointers by the Aztecs gave Esperanza the momentum back.
Esperanza took a 39-35 lead at that point and maintained a lead the rest of the game.
Cantwell only managed one basket in the first quarter, with junior guard Valeria Lizarraga making a 3-pointer in the first minute for the Cardinals’ only lead, 3-0. The Aztecs outscored Cantwell 12-2 the rest of the quarter for a 12-5 lead.
Cantwell outscored the Aztecs 12-9 in the second quarter trail by only four points at halftime. After a missed long-range shot with seconds left in the half, Cantwell senior center Emily Guerena (6 points) hit a putback at the buzzer to leave the Cardinals trailing 21-17 at the break.
Early in the third quarter with Cantwell trailing 25-17, junior guard Victoria Guerrero made consecutive 3-pointers to pull the Cardinals within a basket, 25-23.
Perkins, who transferred from West Covina High in her freshman year, scored 10 points in the second half to keep the Cardinals close.
“I’m glad that I made the transfer here and had a great four years,” Perkins said. “I’m excited to continue my basketball career in college.”
CSHM coach Leonard Dominguez: “The league (Del Rey) that we play in is so tough that we can compete with any team out there. Unfortunately we didn’t do the little things like rebounding and boxing out. That came back to bite us in the end.”
CSHM’s Lily Perkins: “The reason we lost this game is it came down to our defense, and we couldn’t stop them. We just couldn’t finish around the basket.”
— John Sherrard
SATURDAY’S SCORES
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Second Round
1AA
Sonora 59, Lakewood 50
1A
Esperanza 50, CSHM 42
El Rancho 46, Antelope Valley 43
2AA
Lompoc 49, La Habra 46, OT
4AA
California 46, Palmdale 36
Whittier Christian 43, Cathedral City 29
4A
Pioneer 49, Sage Hill 40
WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
Quarterfinals
All games begin at 7 p.m.
1AA
Sonora (19-9) at Canyon Country Canyon (19-9)
1A
El Rancho (25-4) at Bishop Montgomery (18-9)
4AA
California (19-7) at Cerritos Valley Christian (19-8)
Pasadena (22-9) at Whittier Christian (20-9)
4A
Pioneer vs. Bevery Hills-Big Bear (Monday) winner, site TBA
BOYS BASKETBALL
Saturday’s Score
Second Round
La Serna 68, San Gabriel Academy 61
TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE
Quarterfinals
All games begin at 7 p.m.
1AA
Santa Monica (20-7) at Cantwell-SHM (14-14)
3AA
Schurr (22-6) at Rancho Mirage (27-3)
La Serna (26-2) at Brentwood (20-8)
3A
St. Paul (22-5) at Lompoc Carbillo (26-3)