Archbishop Mitty girls basketball team seeking fourth straight CIF-Central Coast Section Open Division championship, 33rd title in program history

Archbishop Mitty has won the past three CIF-Central Coast Section Open Division girls basketball titles.

The Monarchs have captured 32 section championships overall, including nine since the Open Division was first introduced in 2013.

And the program recently celebrated a decade without losing a game in West Catholic Athletic League competition, extending the Monarchs’ league winning streak to 103 in a row.

Despite all of Archbishop Mitty’s success, there is an increased level of motivation for the Monarchs to add to their legacy this season, especially after junior standout McKenna Woliczko suffered a season-ending ACL injury in her right knee Jan. 4 against Ontario Christian.

Archbishop Mitty (21-3) received the top seed in the Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs, with eight teams competing in pool-play contests and the winner of each group squaring off Feb. 28 at Santa Clara University to determine a champion.

Pool-play contests are scheduled for Friday, Monday and Wednesday, with all eight teams advancing to the state playoffs.

The Monarchs, led by Tiera McCarthy, Ze’Ni Patterson, Maliya Hunter, Emma Cook and Devin Cosgriff, are paired with No. 4 Archbishop Riordan (17-7), No. 5 Saint Ignatius (14-10) and No. 8 San Jose Valley Christian (15-9).

Archbishop Mitty girls basketball team | Photo courtesy of Archbishop Mitty

Archbishop Mitty plays host Friday to San Jose Valley Christian, with Archbishop Riordan taking on Saint Ignatius.

The Monarchs already swept a pair of league contests against San Jose Valley Christian.

Saint Ignatius split both league games with Archbishop Riordan, with the Crusaders securing a 57-45 victory Feb. 18 in the regular-season finale after enduring a 55-49 setback Jan. 28 against the Wildcats.

Pinewood of Los Altos Hills (20-3), which captured the Open Division championship in 2021, earned the No. 2 seed and is in the same group as No. 3 Woodside Priory (20-4), No. 6 Mountain View St. Francis (17-7) and No. 7 Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep (14-10).

Pinewood girls basketball team | Photo courtesy of Pinewood

Pinewood, featuring seniors Vallory Kuelker, Jolyn Ding and Katherine Garr as well as junior Caitlyn Kramer, plays host Friday to Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep, with Woodside Priory matching up against Mountain View St. Francis.

Priory, with a lineup highlighted by seniors Vienn Sheng and Natalie Neumann plus junior Ugreat Daniels, prevailed by a 53-47 margin Dec. 30 against Mountain View St. Francis in the Diamond Division final of the West Coast Jamboree at Carondelet High.

Woodside Priory girls basketball team | Photo courtesy of Woodside Priory

Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep hasn’t defeated Pinewood since 2015, losing the past four showdowns against the Panthers.

Los Gatos (16-8) collected the No. 1 seed in Division 1 and awaits an opponent in Tuesday’s quarterfinals.

Palo Alto (11-11) plays Friday at No. 9 Fremont (10-13), with the winner competing Saturday at No. 8 Branham (13-10) to determine which team will square off against Los Gatos.

Los Gatos is seeking its first section title since capturing the Division 1 crown in 2022.

Hillsdale (20-4) achieved the top seed in Division 2 and is scheduled to compete in Tuesday’s quarterfinals against the winner of Saturday’s showdown involving No. 8 Westmont (17-7) and No. 9 Gunn (17-7).

The Fighting Knights are still seeking their first section title, losing in the Division 2 final in 2022.

Notre Dame of San Jose (10-9) is the No. 1 seed in Division 3, with No. 9 Live Oak (18-7) competing Friday against Greenfield (7-14) and No. 8 Aptos (14-12) taking on the winner Saturday to determine the opponent Tuesday for the Regents.

Menlo School (15-8) secured the top seed in Division 4, pursuing a fourth consecutive championship.

The Knights will compete Tuesday against either No. 8 Pacific Grove (19-5), No. 9 Stevenson (19-5) or Marina (18-2).

Castilleja (18-3) collected the No. 1 seed in Division 5, looking to finally produce a breakthrough performance after enduring four losses in section finals in program history.

The Gators begin the postseason Tuesday, with Kehillah (14-2) playing Friday against No. 9 University Prep (9-11), and the winner squaring off Saturday against No. 8 Pacific Collegiate (12-1) to determine the quarterfinal matchup for Castilleja.