Caruthers girls basketball team honors former assistant coach Larry Trigueiro with third state title in seven years, defeating Rancho Bernardo for first Division 2 crown

SACRAMENTO – Caruthers desired to play every Division 2 girls basketball state playoff game with energy, enthusiasm and passion, the Blue Raiders’ commitment to honoring the memory of former assistant coach Larry Trigueiro, who passed away Feb. 18 following a loss in the CIF-Central Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

Caruthers also demonstrated efficiency, versatility and the ability to be opportunistic defensively Saturday against Rancho Bernardo in the state final, leading to another trifecta being showcased at Golden 1 Center.

The Blue Raiders had seven players score, converted 18 Rancho Bernardo turnovers into 21 points and had a 24-point edge on production in the paint, leading to a 56-37 victory and the program’s third state title in seven years, including a Division 5 championship in 2019 and a Division 3 crown last season.

Post-game interviews

Caruthers (26-6) became only the third girls basketball program in California since the state playoffs expanded to six brackets with the addition of the Open Division in 2013 to secure championships in three divisions, along with Sierra Canyon and Oakland Tech.

The Trailblazers won in Division 5 in 2013, Division 4 in 2014 and 2015, as well as the Open Division in 2019 and 2022.

Oakland Tech prevailed in Division 4 in 2019, followed by a Division 3 title in 2022 and capturing a Division 1 crown in 2023. 

Caruthers also added to its legacy by becoming the only CIF-Central Section program, regardless of gender, to win back-to-back state championships, in addition to capturing three state titles overall.

Rancho Bernardo (26-8) was making its state championship debut as the lowest seed, at No. 7, among any of the 12 girls basketball state finalists, regardless of division.

The Broncos won the Division 3-AA regional crown in 2021 with a 72-44 victory against Mary Star of the Sea, but there were no state finals held that year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rancho Bernardo also had to compete Saturday without 6-foot-3 junior forward Abby Lesagonicz – among the team leaders in rebounds and blocks – who was participating in a club volleyball tournament.

The absence of Lesagonicz as a rim protector opened up the lane throughout the contest for Caruthers, who had 36 points in the paint, as well as 10 second-chance points.

Emmi Almeida, a junior, led the Blue Raiders with 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, one year after accumulating almost an identical 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists in a 54-48 victory against Granada Hills Charter in the Division 3 state final.

Although Caruthers head coach Anna Almeida and her children had close relationships with Larry Trigueiro, Emmi explained following the championship celebration Saturday that she gained additional inspiration during the state playoffs from her friend Morgan Trigueiro – Larry’s daughter – who scored 40 points for the College of the Sequoias women’s basketball team in a 92-50 win Feb. 19 against Porterville, the day after his passing.

Caruthers, which had a first-round bye in the state playoffs after earning the top seed in the Northern California Regional, had an extended break following a 68-64 setback against Clovis in the Central Section quarterfinals and didn’t return to competition until March 6 in the regional quarterfinals.

The Blue Raiders, who won the Division 3 state crown as a No. 14 seed last year, had to survive a potential upset bid from No. 8 Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep before earning a 66-64 overtime victory.

Caruthers didn’t experience any additional close calls in the state playoffs, winning each of its final three contests by double figures, relying on a run of 15 unanswered points Saturday during a six-minute span to close the first half and open the third quarter to extend its lead to 35-10.

Lindsay Biddle scored 10 of her team-high 19 points in the third for the Broncos, in addition to contributing 11 rebounds.

Keira Tokushige was the only other Rancho Bernardo player to score in double figures with 11 points, also adding six rebounds and four assists, but only two other Broncos made field goals in the contest.

Izabel Mendez had eight points, four rebounds and six assists, with Celeste Mack adding eight points and six rebounds for Caruthers.

Kara Higuchi and Mia Vaasili both had six points each for Caruthers, as well as combining for six rebounds and all four of the team’s 3-point field goals. Jaylee Moore scored four points and Juliana Lemus had three points and four steals for the Blue Raiders.

Caruthers faces the prospect of possibly competing in the Division 1 state playoffs next season, depending on how far the Blue Raiders advance in the Central Section postseason.

Stockton St. Mary’s is the only girls basketball program in state history to win titles in four different divisions.