PHOTOS: Crean Lutheran advances to 2AA semifinals with thrilling win over Sonora

Crean Lutheran coaches Bianca and Rachael Ziemann and players mob the Saints Taylor Feldman, who had the game-winning basket Saturday. (Photos courtesy Crean Lutheran Shutterbugs, Howard Lyon).

Crean Lutheran’s girls basketball team is headed to the semfinal round of the CIF 2AA playoffs to host top-seeded Orange Lutheran Wednesday night at 7.

The fourth-seeded Saints (22-3) survived an upset bid by fifth-seeded Sonora on a driving lay-up by Taylor Feldman with less than four seconds remaining to win 48-46 Saturday night in the quarterfinal round at Sonora.

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

Larissa Robles of Sonora is defended by Crean Lutheran's Taylor Feldman.

Crean Lutheran co-head coaches Rachael and Bianca Ziemann charge out onto the court to celebrate the win.

Jane Hewitt of Crean Lutheran looks to make a pass against Sonora.

Taylor Feldman puts up a shot for Crean Lutheran.

Feldman scored 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Saints.  Emily Reed had seven points, Sydnee Norwood had five points and seven rebounds, Jane Hewitt had five points and two rebounds and Gianna DeForest four points and five rebounds for the Saints, the Empire League champion.

Sonora (20-7) looked poised to pulll off the upset behind the play of Jazmin Sheik, Kiana Graham and Larissa Robles until the Saints late run. Sheik made a late 3-pointer to tie the game 46-46.

“Tonight was a battle from start to finish,” said Saints co-head coach Bianca Ziemann. “We are blessed to pull out a victory against a very talented and very well-respected coaching staff. We are so proud of our girls.

“In the final three minutes of the game we regained the lead for the first time and we challenged our girls to give everything they have defensively. They executed.”

As for the game-winning shot by Feldman, who is headed to Northern Arizona University next year to play basketball:

“Taylor Feldman hit an incredible game-winning shot over three tough defensive players,” the coach said.

Crean Lutheran will now prepare for Orange Lutheran, which defeated Woodbridge on Saturday at Woodbridge.

The winner moves on to face the winner of the other semifinal between Sage Hill and Santa Monica in the finals Saturday. The finals will be held at designated home gymnasiums.