Carondelet demonstrates depth, defensive prowess against Sage Hill to secure Division 1 girls basketball state crown with 51-48 win

SACRAMENTO – Carondelet High not only showcased the ability to shoot from long range in an NBA arena at the Golden 1 Center, but also demonstrated that its lineup could dig deep on defense Friday against Sage Hill in the Division 1 girls basketball state final.

But the most remarkable examples of depth for the Cougars were exemplified by eight student-athletes contributing offensively and Carondelet boasting a 17-point advantage in bench scoring, which Sage Hill wasn’t able to overcome, despite an exceptional effort from junior point guard Amalia Holguin.

Layla Dixon and Olivia Smith both made a pair of free throws in the final 45 seconds for Carondelet, and freshman Leah O’Toner missed a potential tying 3-pointer for the Lightning as time expired, with the Cougars rallying for a 51-48 victory and the program’s first state championship since 2004.

Post-game interviews

Carondelet (30-6) won a Division 2 crown against Fullerton Troy, but the Cougars had lost their past three state finals appearances and hadn’t reached a championship game since 2010.

After Marin Catholic became the third girls basketball program to endure a stretch of more than 20 years in between state titles with its victory in the Division 3 state final earlier Friday, Carondelet also joined the group that includes Menlo School and Santa Maria St. Joseph.

Celeste Alvarez, a sophomore, had 11 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots, trading 3-point field goals with Holguin during an electrifying 45-second stretch late in the fourth quarter that brought the crowd to its feet in appreciation of both programs.

Holguin, who finished with 21 points, five rebounds and four steals, helped pull Sage Hill (23-12) to within 44-43 on a 3-pointer with 2:06 remaining, with Alvarez responding on the ensuing possession to help Carondelet regain a four-point advantage.

Holguin, who hit four of Sage Hill’s six 3-point field goals, answered again with 1:21 left, as the Lightning cut the deficit to 47-46.

Holguin recorded a steal on the Cougars’ next offensive possession, then set up sophomore Kamdyn Klamberg for a layup to give the Lightning a 48-47 advantage with 1:05 remaining, the only time Sage Hill had the lead in the final quarter after rallying from an eight-point deficit early in the fourth.

Carondelet continued to attack the basket against a taller Sage Hill front line, with Dixon converting two free-throw attempts with 45 seconds left to help the Cougars regain a 49-48 lead and Smith adding a pair of free throws with 13 seconds remaining, which provided a significant contrast to Sage Hill’s struggles at the line.

The Lightning missed all three free-throw opportunities in the fourth and finished the contest 4 of 14 from the line, forcing Sage Hill to play for a potential tying 3-pointer on its last possession, with Carondelet focusing defensively on Holguin, resulting in a pair of freshmen – Addison Uphoff and O’Toner – becoming the primary offensive options in the final seconds.

Uphoff had all eight of her points in the second half and Klamberg contributed 13 points and five rebounds for Sage Hill, which also received four points and nine rebounds from freshman Eve Fowler, as well as two points and four rebounds from junior Alyssa Cuff.

But after making more 3-pointers and outrebounding four previous opponents in the state playoffs to reach its first championship game since winning the Division 2 title in 2022, Sage Hill was upstaged in both areas by Carondelet.

The Cougars were 9 of 24 from 3-point range and held a 46-41 rebounding edge against a taller Sage Hill lineup.

Carondelet also received timely perimeter shooting off the bench from Phoebe Weaver and Ryan Rodriguez, who combined to play less than 10 minutes, but accounted for four 3-pointers, contributing to the Cougars receiving 17 points from their reserves in comparison to none from Sage Hill.

Sophia Ross had eight points and three assists, Dixon contributed six points, eight rebounds and four assists, sophomore Janel Nevares added five points and freshman Niylah Christopher produced four points and six rebounds for Carondelet, which also received five points off the bench from Smith, as the Cougars recorded 15 assists on their 17 field goals.

Carondelet rebounded from a 66-55 loss Feb. 26 to San Ramon Valley in the CIF-North Coast Section Open Division semifinals to win its final six games.

The Cougars won the CIF-North Coast Section Open Division third-place game Feb. 28 with a 72-58 victory against Cardinal Newman, followed by four consecutive home victories in the state playoffs, before prevailing Friday at Golden 1 Center.

Carondelet head coach Kelly Sopak also won his first state championship, after previously suffering an 80-71 setback against Chaminade in the 2016 Open Division state final as coach at Miramonte High, a team that featured current WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu.