(by CHACE BRYSON) – After a first quarter in which the Carondelet High girls basketball team had nearly as many turnovers as it did points, coach Elgin Leslie’s message was simple.
Settle down. And, get the ball to Ali.
Junior post player Ali Bamberger got the ball and made the most of it. She scored 13 of her game-high 28 points the second quarter to jumpstart the Cougars on their way to a 71-58 win over Heritage-Brentwood in the North Coast Section Division I championship at Saint Mary’s College on Friday.
“Most teams will do that: game plan early to take (Ali) out of the game,” Leslie said. “And yeah there was a concerted effort to get it to her, just to get the scoring going. And that’s the easiest access to the basket.”
After scoring just eight points in the first quarter, Carondelet scored 20 or more points in each of the last three quarters. They led 28-27 at halftime, 48-41 after the third quarter, and never trailed over the final eight minutes. It was the program’s 13th NCS title over the past 16 seasons — a number which ranks it second all-time only to Berkeley’s 22 NCS crowns.
Bamberger, who also had eight rebounds, four assists and four blocks in the game, wasn’t the only player to ignite the Cougars comeback. Erica Miller scored all 15 of her points after the first quarter, including three 3-pointers — each of which were major blows to Heritage.
“When I’m in the post and I’m double teamed, the first one I’ll look for is Erica because I know she’ll finish the shot,” Bamberger said. “After she hits a shot or I hit a shot, or we make an assist for each other, the first thing we do is turn and point at each other. That’s kind of just the chemistry that we bring. I honestly look for her always and she looks for me, and I think that’s tremendous when she’s a shooter and she looks inside the post.”
Carondelet (22-8), which has been a Top 8 program in NorCal throughout the season, will now turn its focus to the California Interscholastic Federation Northern Regional championships which begin March 6. Leslie, who’s in his fourth season running the program but was also an assistant to Margaret Gartner for its first 10 championships, hopes the girls still take time to enjoy this accomplishment first.
“I think our girls kind of take it for granted that we’re here every year,” the coach said. “They don’t realize how hard it is. Until they leave the program. Then they realize what a big deal it is. It’s a good feeling, and it’s always special.”
That’s not a sentiment the Heritage boys basketball team will have trouble grasping.
In the Division I boys championship game, it was the Patriots that prevailed over Clayton Valley Charter in a thrilling back-and-forth showdown between two programs still seeking their first championship.
Heritage had a number of big performances lead to its historic win, including a 25-point night from senior forward Jonathan Ned, but the game still hung in the balance before shooting guard Jacob Williams found his hot shooting hand at the most opportune time.
Williams sank three of his five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, including a dagger from the corner with 45 seconds to go that produced the final score and lifted the Patriots to their first NCS title.
“I just felt it going,” Williams said of that final 3-pointer. “I was in rhythm and I just had to take it.”
Heritage (28-2) led by one point after both the first and second quarters, but the game was tied heading into the fourth in front of a near full house at Saint Mary’s College. The fourth quarter produced three lead changes and three ties, the last of which was 66-66 with a little more than two minutes to play. Charles Stanford broke the tie with two free throws prior to Williams’ big 3. Clayton Valley (26-3) had several chances within the last 45 seconds to cut into the lead, but could not get a shot to fall.
“I can’t believe it,” Heritage coach Pat Cruickshank said as he watched in awe as his players celebrated. “Our guys battled all year. They’ve understood how to win basketball games, and they got it done today.”
Williams finished 17 points and point guard Ezra Manjon finished with 12 points and seven assists.
“They really shoot the ball well, and they’re hard to match up with because they’re long,” Clayton Valley coach Eric Bamberger said after the loss. “They’re very long at all their positions, and then they have a speedster guard. It’s a hard matchup for anybody. … They made their plays tonight when they had to.”
Both teams will move on the CIF regional tournament where each will have strong chances to make championship runs.
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photo credit: PHILLIP WALTON/SportStars Magazine
5 comments
Wow is that Eric Bambergers daughter? He’s one heck of a player too!
I love to see strong Family Values. This I believe helps our young succeed. G-d is good
Carondelet forfeited their first round game against Pinewood. What?????????
According to a statement from Carondelet the forfeit came “as a result of the violation of team rules at a non-sanctioned event off-campus.”
From SF Gate article:
“According to sources, the forfeiture was the result of a party held by one member of the team — and attended by all of her teammates — on Saturday, the day after Carondelet won its third consecutive North Coast Section title.”
The article states that this discipline was administered by the school, not CIF.
Also from the article:
“Carondelet expects students to adhere to team and school standards at all times,” the school said in a statement. “Carondelet remains committed to the continual learning and growth of our students in all areas of development.”
What was going on at the party?
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