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A nonleague schedule featuring a Trinity League school and five other teams ranked in the Orange County girls basketball Top 25 prepared Godinez for the challenge it faced entering the fourth quarter Friday.
The Grizzlies trailed Segerstrom by two points with the Jaguars’ loud home crowd on their side.
But Godinez responded with a 16-0 run to open the fourth quarter and collected a 61-54 victory to remain in contention for the Empire League title.
“Great win for us,” Godinez coach A.J. Alaman said. “The preseason schedule that we put together was a tough schedule. Some people looked at our record and were like, ‘Oh wow’ and kind of thought that we had fallen off a little bit.”
“But I knew every night in this league especially, was going to be games like this. Back and fourth, and back and forth, and we’re going to have to pull away at the end.”
Godinez (12-10, 5-1) did just that to complete a sweep against rival Segerstrom (16-7, 2-4).
The Jaguars led 43-41 going into the final period but the Grizzlies erupted for a 16-0 run to open a 57-43 advantage with about 3 1/2 minutes left in regulation.
Godinez’s full-court press helped spark the surge. Senior Valerie Esteban scored consecutive backets off turnovers as the run reached 8-0 and drew a timeout from Segerstrom.
Senior Valeria Arcos then sank two 3-pointers to push the lead to 55-43.
On defense, Godinez held Segerstrom scoreless until sophomore post Kamila Floris scored with 3:18 left in the fourth.
“After the third quarter, coach told us that we’ve already been in these type of moments,” said Esteban, whose team has lost to Orange Lutheran St. Margaret’s among others in the Top 25. “We already knew how to play.”
Esteban scored eight of her game-high 20 points in the final frame. Arcos scored all eight of her points in the fourth while sophomores Crystal Cruz and Jocelyn Huizar each added a field goal.
Godinez showed its depth as seven different players tallied at least six points.
The Grizzlies trail No. 16 Buena Park (17-5, 5-0) by a half-game and play at the defending league champion on Jan. 30.
Segerstrom freshman post Jaida Cervantes fouled out 21 seconds into the fourth.
The Jaguars scored 11 points in the final 3:18, including eight by Floris. The sophomore finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
Cervantes scored seven of her 11 points in the third period and finished with eight rebounds.
“We kept playing hard, trying to make a comeback,” Segerstrom coach Valentin Valencia said.
In other games Friday:
Mater Dei 68, Bishop Gorman of Nevada 64: Harmony Golightly and Amiah Lewis each scored 12 points to lead four players in double figures as the host Monarchs (20-4) won their 11th consecutive game.
In the Freeway League:
Yorba Linda 44, Sonora 39: Paullee Ramos scored 16 points as the host Mustangs (13-7, 3-2) earned a split with the Raiders (14-9, 3-3) in league.