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Sage Hill’s girls basketball team executed under pressure at the recent Nike Tournament of Champions in Mesa, Ariz.
The Lightning made several key plays at the end of regulation during their run to the title of the Joe Smith Division.
It was Sage Hill’s first tournament since the school announced on Dec. 13 that longtime coach Kerwin Walters is no longer the coach.
In a 57-55 victory against Francis Parker on Monday, 6-foot-4 sophomore center Eve Fowler blocked a shot at the buzzer to seal the championship in the tournament’s No. 2-ranked high school federation division.
Fowler’s block, her seventh of the final, came on the heels of a go-ahead, 3-point play by guard Amalia Holguin, who gave Sage Hill a 57-55 lead with nine seconds left.
“It just showed a lot of their grit and being able to stay in the moment and finish the game,” said Jethro Julian, who is serving as the Lightning’s interim head coach.
Holguin, who signed with Texas, scored 25 points in the championship game and earned tournament MVP.
Sage Hill (10-4) also received 17 points from Kamdyn Klamberg and 12 from Fowler.
In a 68-66 triumph against Cherokee Trail of Colorado in the semifinals, Fowler beat the buzzer with a game-winning layup off an assist from Addison Uphoff.
Klamberg and Uphoff were selected all-tournament.
Julian joined Sage Hill this season as a first-year assistant under Walters.
Julian said he and his players are adjusting to the coaching change on a daily basis.
“They’re adjusting pretty well,” Julian said of the players. “It’s a great group of girls.”
Julian, the former girls coach at La Habra, said Sage Hill is striving for another postseason run.
Last season, Walters guided the Lightning to a Division I runner-up finish in state. Sage Hill captured a Division II state title under Walters in 2022.
“He’s a great guy,” Julian said of Walters. “Great character.”
On Saturday, Sage Hill and Mater Dei open play in the Holiday Classic in Portland, Ore.
Sage Hill starts the Emerald Division against Camas of Washington while Mater Dei begins the Diamond Division against Eastside Catholic of Washington.
SHORT SHORTS
Villa Park overcame a 17-point deficit in the third quarter to edge Grandview of Colorado 50-49 in the semifinals of the Dan Wiley Division at the Nike TOC. Sabina Patel sank a go-ahead foul shot with 21.4 seconds left for the Spartans. Villa Park fell to Coeur d’Alene of Idaho 60-44 in the finals Monday. …
Marina’s Surf City Holiday Classic runs Friday and through Tuesday. …
Fairmont Prep and JSerra, ranked No. 1 and No. 3 in Orange County this week, respectively, are in the premier division of the SoCal Holiday Prep Classic, which begins in San Diego on Saturday. …
Mater Dei will cap its Matt Denning Nike Hoops Classic on Jan. 3 by playing host to to Democracy Prep of Nevada on Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Democracy Prep beat three-time defending state champion Etiwanda 66-61 at Esperanza’s recent showcase.
The Denning starts at 9 a.m. and also includes Esperanza-Valencia of Valencia at 4:30 p.m. and Sage Hill-Mission Hills at 6 p.m. …
Mater Dei and Rosary will co-host the Kay Yow Showcase on Jan. 9-10. At Rosary on Jan. 9, Fairmont Prep will play Northern California power Archbishop Mitty of San Jose at 5:30 p.m. On the following day at Mater Dei, Archbishop Mitty and Ontario Christian will clash at noon.