PHOTOS: Big fourth quarter lifts El Dorado past La Canada for CIF Division 4 title

The El Dorado Hawks rush the court as time expires in the CIF final Friday night at Azusa Pacific University. (Photos courtesy John Luciano, For OC Sports Zone).

El Dorado’s girls basketball team used a strong fourth quarter to break open a close game and defeat La Canada 41-27 in the CIF Division 4 championship game Friday night at Azusa Pacific University.  

The victory earned El Dorado (19-14) its first CIF girls basketball championship since 1976. The Golden Hawks won their seventh consecutive game and secured the win by outscoring the Spartans 13-2 in the final period. 

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

“Words cannot explain how wonderful it feels right now,” said El Dorado Coach Matthew Raya. “I know my dad and brother are looking down from heaven and enjoying every second of this victory. These girls did everything thing we asked them to do this season.”

Delaney Shiring led the Golden Hawks with 19 points, five rebounds and five assists. She drilled back-to-back 3-pointers in the fourth quarter that gave El Dorado a double-digit lead.

Riley Morikawa scored eight points and had four steals to help spark the Golden Hawks second half run. Kennedy Wood’s steal and basket just before the buzzer to end the third quarter gave El Dorado momentum going into the final period. 

“It’s so surreal to win this championship,” said Shiring. “It was meant to be. It’s been 50 years since our school won a championship and it feels so amazing.”

“I feel so grateful to be part of this spirited community,” said Karis Wu, who scored five points and had four steals. “We had our ups and down this season but we pushed hard through the playoffs.” 

The Golden Hawks played an aggressive defense and held La Canada to one basket (on 1-17 shooting) in the first quarter and led 9-3 after the first period. 

El Dorado went on a 11-3 run to start the second quarter. Shiring’s basket gave the Golden Hawks a 20-6 lead at the 5:18 mark of the quarter and El Dorado looked as if they were cruising.

However, the Golden Hawks went scoreless on their final nine possession of the period, including committing four turnovers. In the meantime, the Spartans took advantage of El Dorado’s cold spell and went on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 20-15 at halftime. 

Both teams shot under 30 percent in the first half and La Canada out rebounded El Dorado 24-19, highlighted by Serena Morillo’s nine rebounds, in the opening half.

The Spartans (19-13) continued their momentum into the third quarter as they started the period on an 8-2 run. Madison Hunt’s basket gave La Canada a 23-22 lead with 3:51 to play in the quarter. But the Golden Hawks countered with a 3-pointer by Riley Morikawa and a steal and a basket by Kennedy Wood just before the buzzer to end the quarter, giving the Golden Hawks a 28-25 lead after three periods.

“My shots weren’t falling tonight but it was my defense that got me that steal and that basket and that gave me my confidence back,” said Wood. “I feel like it gave us momentum going into the fourth quarter and it felt great to make a clutch shot.”  

Shiring 3-pointer with 4:16 to play upped El Dorado’s lead to 34-27. Moments later she nailed another 3-pointer and the Golden Hawks led 37-27 with 2:59 reminding in the game. El Dorado closed out the victory and tasted the thrill of a championship for the first time in 51 years. 

El Dorado held La Canda to under 20 percent shooting in the game, including 2-of-19 from beyond the arc. Diya Hair led the Spartans with seven points.   

Notes:

—-La Canada captured the Rio Hondo League title this season while El Dorado finished third in the Century League. 

—-The Golden Hawks defeated Loma Linda Academy, Ontario, Woodrow Wilson, and Marina in the its first four rounds of the playoffs.

—-La Canada defeated Viewpoint, Yorba Linda, Jordan, and Canyon in the playoffs before reaching the CIF finals.