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El Modena has emerged as one of the most improved teams in Orange County girls basketball, and its best may still be yet to come.
After a blistering 19-0 start to the campaign, El Modena has secured an automatic playoff berth in the North Hills League.
If the Vanguards (22-2, 4-1) beat visiting Foothill (13-8, 3-2) on Tuesday, they will play Friday at Cypress (14-12, 6-0) for a share of first place.
For a program that hasn’t been in the playoffs since 2015-16 and posted consecutive winless seasons just a few years ago, it’s been a startling rise for El Modena.
“We kind of came out of nowhere,” fourth-year Vanguards coach Eliseo Oliva said. “We jelled really well.”
El Modena has developed the past few seasons under the consistent guidance of Oliva, who also serves as an assistant coach for the Fullerton College women.
El Modena went 21-7 last winter but didn’t receive an at-large berth to the playoffs after finishing fourth in the North Hills League with a 2-6 mark.
But the Vanguards’ maturity has surfaced this season. They returned several girls with varsity experience and added a talented freshman to the mix.
The starting group features three seniors, one junior and a sophomore.
High-scoring senior Amira Tomizh runs the point guard position. She scored 29 points in a 51-41 win against West Covina in late December and 26 points in a 61-27 win at Foothill in league.
El Modena beat Foothill for the first time since 2004.
The starting unit also features seniors Amalia Subia and Camila Lubin.
Subia is a guard who played on the Vanguards’ flag football team that reached the Division 3 quarterfinals in the fall. She’ll compete for the North in the O.C. all-star flag football game on Saturday.
Lubin plays small forward.
Junior guard Sienna Gamez also supplies plenty of offense.
Earlier this season, Gamez tied the school’s single-game record with eight 3-pointers. Her 70 3-pointers are six shy of setting the single-season school record.
The school record for 3-pointers in a season belongs to freshman Alyssa Galasso’s aunt Lindsey Galasso. Lindsey Galasso was an O.C. all-star game selection for El Modena and went on to help Orange Coast College claim a state title in 2003.
Alyssa Galasso, the sister of former El Modena standout softball player Kaitlyn Galasso, is the Vanguards’ top player off the bench. She also is playing soccer this winter.
Oliva said Alyssa Galasso injected the basketball team with a “competitiveness” that has been contagious. El Modena plays a full-court press defense and an up-tempo offense.
Sophomore center Rylee Ashton, who is 5-foot-10, rounds out the starting lineup.
Forward Dalyla Vazquez is another sophomore to watch off the bench. She earned first-team all-league honors in flag football.
While El Modena is excited for the playoffs, success for Oliva isn’t measured only by wins.
As the father of a daughter who runs track at Cal State Fullerton, he strives to advocate for female sports, build a family-like environment and develop well-rounded student-athletes.
El Modena features multiple players from flag football. Senior Lindsey Lyons participates in ASB.
“It’s been a successful season for the girls,” Oliva said. “Things are moving in the right direction.”
SHORT SHOTS
San Clemente senior guard Quinsey Bryan is focused on physical therapy and supporting the Tritons after undergoing season-ending knee surgery in November. She signed with Santa Clara in November. “I should be able to be back and ready for training camp in July so I’m excited for that,” she said. “I’ve been trying to be more in the coaching role (with San Clemente) like an assistant coach, a mentor for some of the girls, especially the younger ones.”
Buena Park senior guard Ava Wiley sank seven 3-pointers en route to 21 points in a 69-43 victory against Segerstrom last week. …
Villa Park, ranked seventh in Orange County, plays host to No. 11 Rosary on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. to highlight its first showcase. Other games include Warren-Portola at 3 p.m., Rosemead-El Dorado at 4:30 p.m. and Brea Olinda-Beckman at 6 p.m.