El Dorado players and coaches celebrate after winning the CIF state title. (Photos courtesy Mark Bausman, For OC Sports Zone).
El Dorado’s girls basketball team went to Sacramento and brought home the coveted CIF State Division III championship Friday afternoon.
The Golden Hawks, who won the CIF Division 4 championship last month, the first for the program since 1976, put together a strong second half to defeat Valley Christian of San Jose 42-40 in the state final at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
To see the slide show, click on the first photo:
It’s the first CIF state title for the program.
“It was exciting and a battle,” El Dorado Coach Matthew Raya told OC Sports Zone from Sacramento. “As the other games, the girls showed grit and perseverance to get the win.”
Delaney Shiring scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds, Riley Morikawa and Karis Wu had eight points each and Kennedy Wood scored six points and eight assists to lead the Golden Hawks (24-14). Morikawa also had eight rebounds.
Kenedi Nomura scored 18 points to lead Valley Christian (16-16). She was the only Valley Christian player in double figures.
El Dorado made 11 of 12 free throws and that played a part down the stretch.
The Golden Hawks led 24-21 at halftime and went on an 8-2 run in the third quarter to take a 32-23 lead. El Dorado led 34-30 after three quarters and continued to be effective defensively in the fourth quarter.
Shiree hit a 3-pointer with 3:53 remaining in the game to extend the Golden Hawks lead to 39-32.
Valley Christian made one final run, cutting the lead to one point with 34 seconds left but Morikawa sank one of two free throws to give the Golden Hawks a 42-40 lead with 13 seconds remaining.
Valley Christian had a chance to tie the game with seven seconds left, drove the lane in an attempt to put up the game tying shot, but El Dorado made a key stop, ran out the clock and celebrated the win.
Raya said the Hawks switched Delaney to defending against one of the top Valley Christian guards in the fourth quarter and the strategy paid off.
El Dorado made 13 of 44 field goals (29.5 percent) while Valley Christian sank 17 of 47 (36.2 percent). Valley Christian outrebounded El Dorado 35-29.
El Dorado made five 3-pointers, two by Wu.
The Golden Hawks forced 12 turnovers and had only seven turnovers themselves.
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