Lightning smack Warriors out of playoffs

NEWPORT COAST — The Sage Hill School girls’ basketball team gave itself a model Thursday to copy for the remainder of the playoffs.

Sophomore Tierney Danner dominated inside with 23 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Stephanie Garrison hit open jump shots for 12 points. Senior Kaitlin Tyre attacked the basket, 14 points, and distributed the ball, 10 assists.

Junior Jordan Hildalgo played aggressive defense, a team-high four steals, junior Katie McKeon controlled the offensive flow, the Lightning’s bench filled in the cracks and Sage Hill posted its second biggest margin of victory this season with a 61-36 triumph over Baptist Christian of Hemet in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA playoffs.

It was the complete team contribution Sage Hill Coach Lou Silverman said the Lightning regularly delivers.

“This is a team of great effort and great character,” the first-year coach said. “Tierney was a little banged up, but she played well. Katie, Kaitlin and Stephanie were all hitting their shots. Jordan, she’s been our defensive stopper all year. She draws the toughest defensive assignment and does a great job.”

Sage Hill will face Calvary Chapel of Santa Ana in the second round Saturday. The host team will be determined by coin flip today. The Lightning lost to the Eagles in a tournament, 47-36, in their sixth game of the season Dec. 18.

The game was tied at halftime, 18-18, before Calvary Chapel outscored Sage Hill 24-8 in the third quarter. McKeon said not turning the ball over will be critical.

“We are going to have to just run our offense,” said McKeon, who had four assists. “We are so much better now.”

Tyre said it will be fun to get another shot at Calvary Chapel.

“We just have to stay together and stay strong,” Tyre said. “It would be nice to get revenge.”

Sage Hill has been a different team of late. The loss to Calvary Chapel was part of a season-long four-game losing streak. Thursday’s victory, gave the Lightning wins in seven of their last eight games.

“Everybody worked so hard,” McKeon said. “We are passing really well. We’ve had a lot of different players injured. The bench players have played well.”

The Lightning went on a 19-6 run in the fourth quarter.

“At halftime they decided to go to man defense,” Tyre said. “I like playing against man defense.”

CIF Southern SectionDivision IV-AA Playoffs

First Round

Sage Hill 61,

Baptist Christian 36

Score by Quarters

BC 7 10 11 8 — 36

Sage Hill 14 16 12 19 — 61

Baptist Christian -- Al. Kubel 16, Record 4, Am. Kubel 2, Tabor 5, Flores 5, Brown 4.

3-pt. goals -- Al. Kubel 2.

Sage Hill -- Hidalgo 2, McKeon 9, Danner 23, Rashtchi 2, Tyre 14, Garrison 12, Schaus 2.

3-pt. goals -- None.