| | Published March 16, 2011
| Lamorinda Girls' Basketball Postseason Review
| | By Conrad Bassett |  | | Campolindo celebrates after beating Miramonte in the second round of the NCS Photo Jordan Fong
|
All the Lamorinda teams made it to the postseason at both the North Coast Section (NCS) and CIF-Northern California tournaments.
NCS:
The Miramonte girls' basketball team met up with Campolindo on March 2 for the third time this year, but but the third time was did not prove to be the 'charm' as the Lady Cougars overwhelmed the Matadors with 28 fourth period points to secure a berth in the North Coast Section Division III championship game. The final was 75 to 63.
The game was close throughout the first three periods as neither team held a lead of more than six points. The Mats had taken a 56-52 lead.
Then Campolindo went to work and the Cougars scored 10 straight points to establish a lead they would not give up.
Senior Annie Ward led a balanced Cougar attack with 21 points while senior Amanda Forshay and junior Mallory Brown had 16 apiece.
Matador senior Alyssa Johansen led all scorers with 22 points while junior Devon McDonald added 11.
Despite the loss Miramonte, along with Acalanes, qualified to compete in the CIF-Nor Cal tournament.
The win moved Campolindo into the NCS Championship game against Bishop O'Dowd on March 5. Bishop O'Dowd defeated Acalanes to reach the championship game.
The Cougars jumped off to a 15-9 lead after one period, but the Dragons played very well in the second period and took a 36-28 lead into the intermission. The trend continued in the third period as O'Dowd opened up a lead that eventually went to 13 points.
The Cougars fought back to erase the deficit. With the score tied at 59 and less than two seconds to go, O'Dowd missed to send the game to overtime.
The overtime period was just as exciting. With 1:07 to go Forshay hit two free throws to give Campo a 63-61 lead and following an O'Dowd three pointer, Forshay again attacked the basket giving the Cougars a 65-64 lead with 25 seconds to go.
O'Dowd scored to take the lead. Campo in-bounded the ball, but a long shot fell short and O'Dowd had their third consecutive NCS division III championship.
Forshay and Ward led Campolindo with 16 points each.
CIF-North Coast Section:
The following Tuesday, March 8, all three Lamorinda teams began the run to the CIF Northern California championships. Campolindo, Miramonte, and Acalanes were the six, seven and nine seeds, respectively, in the 12 team bracket.
Acalanes went up to Fairfield to face Vanden of the San Joaquin Section and played well early. Behind junior Sophie Taylor's outside shooting, Acalanes opened up a 20-14 lead at the end of the first period.
Vanden came back strong in the second and third periods behind Erimma Amarikwa who led all scorers with 31 points, 21 coming in the second half.
The Lady Dons fell 56-49 and ended their season with a very successful 19-10 record. Senior Emani Harrison led the Dons with 15 points in her last game.
Over in Orinda, Miramonte received a home game against Northern Section runner up, Enterprise. The Lady Mats took the lead and never looked back, leading 28-11 at the half.
In the second half the confident Mats went on to win 63-28. Johanson led a balanced attacked with 14 points.
At the same time in Moraga, the Campolindo girls hosted Christian Brothers of Sacramento, also of the San Joaquin Section.
Campo jumped off to a 22-11 lead after one period and led by eight at the half. Christian Brothers never got closer than seven the rest of the way. Ward led Campo with 24 points and junior Annelise Ito added 20 points and nine rebounds in the 79-64 win.
The victories for Miramonte and Campolindo sent them out on the road to face opponents-Sacramento High and Sacred Heart Cathedral, respectively.
The Lady Mats jumped off to an early 15-13 lead after the first period, but a 13-5 Sac High second period put them down by six at the intermission. They fought a strong battle, staying close until near the end, finally losing 50-43.
Johanson led Miramonte (and all scorers) with 15 as they finished their season with an outstanding 23-7 record.
Campolindo headed across the bay to take on the Sacred Heart Cathedral. Campo came out strong building a 12 point lead at half. Sacred Heart closed the gap, but Campo held on to win 63-57. Sophomore Laura Hickey led the team with 12 points to go with eight rebounds.
This win brought Campolindo an opportunity to make the same road trip Miramonte had two nights earlier-to Sacramento High. Campo kept it close most of the evening-getting within two with less than 15 seconds to go but were edged out, 58-54.
Ito led Campo with 16 points and 15 rebounds. The Cougars finished the year at 25-7.
It was an absolutely outstanding year as the three Lamorinda teams finish with a 67-24 record and boast a combined 60-17 against non-Lamorinda opponents.
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 | | Carly Gill (13) and Devon McDonald (3) congratulate Alyssa Johanson after
she hits a lay-up and draws a foul Photo Jordan Fong
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA