LOS GATOS — Each groups had been younger, each had been tall and so they had been seeded Nos. 4 and 5 within the CIF Northern California Division II women basketball playoffs.
Seemingly a matchup between comparable, evenly-talented groups. However No. 5 San Joaquin Memorial got here in averaging practically 20 factors extra per recreation than No. 4 Los Gatos (69.5 to 50.1) and confirmed proper from the outset a determined edge in quickness.
The guests from Fresno performed at a tempo that translated to a 50-36 victory.
“We hadn’t performed a group like that every one yr, with that form of quickness and athleticism,” Los Gatos coach Sara Quilici-Giles mentioned. “And it was the primary time we haven’t been the taller group.”
San Joaquin Memorial (25-6), with six freshmen on its roster, had scored 90 or extra 5 occasions this season and 80 or extra 11 occasions.
“We held them to 50,” Quilici-Giles identified.
However 11-of-49 capturing together with 24 turnovers saved the Wildcats from making it extra aggressive.
A fastbreak layup off of the opening tip by Memorial’s Saiya Sidhu gave a sign of what was to return. SJM jumped out to a 13-2 lead, Los Gatos (25-4) went on a 10-0 run to tie it 15-15 earlier than the guests closed the primary half on a 10-2 spurt for a 25-17 halftime benefit.
The Panthers opened a 41-26 lead after three quarters and the margin by no means obtained beneath 12 within the fourth quarter.
Meadow Roland, a 6-foot junior who’s reportedly acquired 4 Division I affords, scored 14 factors for Memorial, all within the second half. Alexis Swillis, a 6-2 freshman already with a suggestion from Fresno State, scored 12.
Los Gatos begins three 6-footers — sophomore Belle Bramer, together with freshmen Nicole Steiner and Ashley Childers. They mixed for 31 of the group’s 36 factors with Childers, who made three 3-pointers, scoring 11. Bramer and Steiner had 10 apiece.
With such a younger nucleus the potential is there for important enchancment over the approaching years.
“I’m thrilled in regards to the future at Los Gatos for ladies basketball,” Quilici-Giles mentioned
Bramer, who had 10 rebounds, additionally serves because the group’s major ball-handler. She led the group on the season in scoring, assists and steals.
“Her motor by no means stops,” Quilici-Giles mentioned.
Steiner, the group’s low-post possibility, additionally had 9 rebounds.
Bramer was requested if she’d ever encountered a group like San Joaquin Memorial within the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League:
“Not even shut,” she mentioned. “We’ll positively study from this and alter higher once we see different groups like this sooner or later.”
San Joaquin Memorial will head dwelling to play No. 8 seed Lincoln of Stockton, a 63-56 winner over No. 1 seed Piedmont, on Saturday.