Francis Parker relies on Isabella Riddle, impressive defensive effort to pull away from Rancho Bernardo in CIF-San Diego Section Open Division girls basketball playoff opener

SAN DIEGO – Francis Parker School is used to being a top seed in the CIF-San Diego Section girls basketball playoffs and embracing the role as a favorite, which the team did last season to capture the Division 2 championship.

But the Lancers quickly learned Friday that playing in the Open Division, especially with a target on their backs as the No. 1 seed, can create added pressure, especially for a roster that doesn’t feature any seniors.

Post-game interviews

Despite missing its first seven 3-point field goal attempts, making only one basket in the opening quarter and having several athletes playing reduced minutes as a result of foul trouble, Francis Parker managed to withstand an early challenge from No. 8 Rancho Bernardo, holding the visiting Broncos scoreless for an eight-minute stretch in the second and third quarters in a 38-24 victory at Vassiliadis Athletic Center.

The Lancers (19-8) advanced to Tuesday’s semifinals against No. 4 Westview (20-8) – a 53-40 winner Friday against fifth-seeded Grossmont (22-4) – in the first meeting of the programs since 2008.

Isabella Riddle, a freshman forward, made a significant impact in her postseason debut for Francis Parker, producing a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Riddle had 15 of the Lancers’ 20 first-half points and was outscoring Rancho Bernardo (22-7) by herself, until there was less than a minute left in the third quarter.

Francis Parker led 18-16 following a layup by Rancho Bernardo’s Reese Tokushige with 1:02 left in the second quarter.

Riddle’s basket in the final seconds of the opening half extended the Lancers’ lead to a four-point margin at the break.

Francis Parker regrouped and scored the first 11 points of the second half to build its lead to 31-16, before junior Lindsay Biddle ended the Broncos’ frustrating drought on a layup with 1:02 remaining in the third quarter.

Biddle, the leading scorer for Rancho Bernardo at 20 points per game, made only two field goals and was held to a season-low six points to go along with 12 rebounds for the Broncos.

Abby Lesagonicz added 10 rebounds, plus one point, for Rancho Bernardo.

Keira Tokushige, a senior guard, led Rancho Bernardo with 10 points, including the Broncos’ only 3-pointers, as the team shot 2 of 15 from behind the arc.

Francis Parker connected on just 3 of 15 3-point attempts, and made only 11 of 19 free throws, but the Lancers’ defense was able to offset the offensive struggles, holding Rancho Bernardo without a field goal in the fourth quarter and limiting the Broncos to just two second-half baskets and eight points after the break, as they produced their lowest-scoring output of the season

The return of junior guard Kaitlyn Raagas to the lineup was a bright spot for Francis Parker after she hadn’t played since Jan. 31, missing four games as a result of an ankle injury.

Raagas participated in two days of non-contact activities to start the week, before returning to full practice on back-to-back days ahead of Friday’s playoff opener, giving the Lancers nine available athletes to compete in the postseason.

With sophomore Gigi Ong and freshman Brianna Mendez both compromised by foul trouble – resulting in the Francis Parker guard tandem combining for only nine points – Raagas was able to provide stability and leadership in the backcourt for the Lancers, in addition to contributing two points, three rebounds and two assists.