Girls’ basketball: Sierra Canyon wins third state title
Cheyanne Wallace had 24 points and fellow senior Kennedy Burke added 14 points, 14 rebounds, six blocks and three steals to lead Sierra Canyon to its third consecutive state championship and back-to-back Division IV titles with a 69-56 victory over Brookside Christian at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley.
The win made it a state sweep for the Trailblazers after the boys’ team defeated San Francisco University 80-55 to capture the Division V crown Friday.
Another senior who has contributed to Sierra Canyon’s three-peat is Gabi Nevill, who had nine points and two assists against the Knights (27-4).
“We’ve titled this ‘Cry Fest 2015’ because that’s what’s about to happen,” Sierra Canyon Coach Alicia Komaki said in the interview room afterwards. “I’m very proud of this team. It’s been an incredible journey since I’ve been here. This is the best place I’ve ever worked and I’m not going anywhere for a long time.”
Sierra Canyon (25-5) led 20-9 after the first quarter and 33-23 at halftime. Brookside Christian closed to within 44-40 early in the fourth quarter but the Trailblazers answered with a 16-6 run.
Sophomore guard Alexis Griggsby contributed 11 points and eight rebounds and is one of seven players returning next season to try to make it four state titles in a row for Sierra Canyon, which lost to Alemany in the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Open Division playoffs.
Aarion McDonald had 26 points, 14 rebounds, three steals and played all 32 minutes for Brookside Christian.
“We talked [with the boys] about winning the state championship and now it’s happened,” Nevill said. “I think we were the only people here watching them yesterday. We’re on Spring Break.”
-- Steve Galluzzo
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