Gators in Division IV Title Game, Knights are Knocked Out
Sacred Heart Prep 72, Oceana-Pacifica 46
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The Sacred Heart Prep freshman has already had a fine rookie season and Tuesday night she raised her game to another level.
Levison scored 17 of her season-best 33 points in the first quarter and the third-seeded Gators romped past No. 2 Oceana-Pacifica, 72-46, in the semifinals of the Central Coast Section girls Division IV tournament at Notre Dame-Belmont.
Defending champions Sacred Heart Prep (13-11) advances into Saturday's championship game against No. 4 seed Half Moon Bay at a place and to be determined.
The Cougars (20-8) knocked off top-seeded Menlo, 49-33, in a game that was tied after three quarters. The Knights (14-11) had their winning streak against Division IV teams snapped at 34.
"I thought it would be a close game," Levison said. "When I got the first one down, I knew I just had it."
Levison scored the Gators' first 11 points and didn't miss in the early going, hitting all five of her 3-pointers in the first 10 minutes.
When the Sharks wised up and came out to defend her, Levision drove the lane and hit tough inside shots. She added five rebounds and blocked three shots.
Oceana actually held a 23-21 lead entering the second period. The play of SHP's Denise Stine on both ends of the court sparked the Gators in the second quarter.
"I just do the best I can to help the team," Stine said. "If that's sparking momentum, its all the better. I think my teammates had a lot of energy and our defense created a lot of offense."
She finished with six points and six rebounds and likely at least that many steals as Sacred Heart Prep opened a 35-27 halftime advantage.
The taller Gators had decided rebounding edge but they also matched well with Oceana's speed and not allowing easy baskets.
Sacred Heart Prep, which finished fifth in the tough West Bay Athletic League, grabbed 45 rebounds, with Lagi Pakola and Tatum Angotti each winding up with nine. Zoe Zaharias added 13 points, hitting a trio of 3-pointers, to go with five rebounds and a blocked shot.
Menlo coach John Paye knows all about momentum shift and on Tuesday, it swung rather dramatically toward the Cougars.
De'Jeane Stine and and Mohini Gupta hit consecutive 3-pointers to give the Knights a 26-19 lead midway through the third quarter. Menlo was still ahead, 29-26, with time running out in the period.
That's when Half Moon Bay 5-foot-5 guard Makenna Colucci let loose a shot from the corner, under pressure from 5-8 Mallory North, that hit nothing but net and changed the course of the contest.
"That propelled into the the fourth quarter," Paye said.. I knew Half Moon Bay would be a tough match-up. They constantly fight for the ball and they have a strong inside presence."
Half Moon Bay went on a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter as Menlo, which participated in the Open Division last year, suffered through its worst shooting quarter of the season.
Stine led the Knights with 10 points while Sam Erisman finished with eight.
"Sam has been so good for us in bring us back," Paye said. "This is probably the first time all season she hasn't scored in double figures."
Erisman and Stine are the only seniors on the team and while they are big losses, there's a good core returning. Take away the eight combined seniors from both teams and Menlo has a 15-14 advantage.
Back
Charlotte Levison probably didn't know it at the time but all those years of playing one-on-one basketball with her twin brother Daniel helped hone her instincts and shooting skills.
The Sacred Heart Prep freshman has already had a fine rookie season and Tuesday night she raised her game to another level.
Levison scored 17 of her season-best 33 points in the first quarter and the third-seeded Gators romped past No. 2 Oceana-Pacifica, 72-46, in the semifinals of the Central Coast Section girls Division IV tournament at Notre Dame-Belmont.
Defending champions Sacred Heart Prep (13-11) advances into Saturday's championship game against No. 4 seed Half Moon Bay at a place and to be determined.
The Cougars (20-8) knocked off top-seeded Menlo, 49-33, in a game that was tied after three quarters. The Knights (14-11) had their winning streak against Division IV teams snapped at 34.
"I thought it would be a close game," Levison said. "When I got the first one down, I knew I just had it."
Levison scored the Gators' first 11 points and didn't miss in the early going, hitting all five of her 3-pointers in the first 10 minutes.
When the Sharks wised up and came out to defend her, Levision drove the lane and hit tough inside shots. She added five rebounds and blocked three shots.
Oceana actually held a 23-21 lead entering the second period. The play of SHP's Denise Stine on both ends of the court sparked the Gators in the second quarter.
"I just do the best I can to help the team," Stine said. "If that's sparking momentum, its all the better. I think my teammates had a lot of energy and our defense created a lot of offense."
She finished with six points and six rebounds and likely at least that many steals as Sacred Heart Prep opened a 35-27 halftime advantage.
The taller Gators had decided rebounding edge but they also matched well with Oceana's speed and not allowing easy baskets.
Sacred Heart Prep, which finished fifth in the tough West Bay Athletic League, grabbed 45 rebounds, with Lagi Pakola and Tatum Angotti each winding up with nine. Zoe Zaharias added 13 points, hitting a trio of 3-pointers, to go with five rebounds and a blocked shot.
Menlo coach John Paye knows all about momentum shift and on Tuesday, it swung rather dramatically toward the Cougars.
De'Jeane Stine and and Mohini Gupta hit consecutive 3-pointers to give the Knights a 26-19 lead midway through the third quarter. Menlo was still ahead, 29-26, with time running out in the period.
That's when Half Moon Bay 5-foot-5 guard Makenna Colucci let loose a shot from the corner, under pressure from 5-8 Mallory North, that hit nothing but net and changed the course of the contest.
"That propelled into the the fourth quarter," Paye said.. I knew Half Moon Bay would be a tough match-up. They constantly fight for the ball and they have a strong inside presence."
Half Moon Bay went on a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter as Menlo, which participated in the Open Division last year, suffered through its worst shooting quarter of the season.
Stine led the Knights with 10 points while Sam Erisman finished with eight.
"Sam has been so good for us in bring us back," Paye said. "This is probably the first time all season she hasn't scored in double figures."
Erisman and Stine are the only seniors on the team and while they are big losses, there's a good core returning. Take away the eight combined seniors from both teams and Menlo has a 15-14 advantage.
Sacred Heart Schools Atherton
Founded by the Society of the Sacred Heart, SHS is a Catholic, independent, co-ed day school for students in preschool through grade 12
