An old California high school basketball rivalry was renewed Saturday, including some new faces, as well as the absence of one significant presence in the final of the 16-team ABCA Bracket at the annual Section 7 Girls Weekend at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa.
Windward built a 10-point halftime advantage and never relinquished control against Sierra Canyon to secure the championship with a 63-60 victory.
Angelina Habis, a transfer from Chaminade High, contributed 11 points for Windward, which led 29-19 at the break.
Delaney White, an Oak Park High transfer, scored 12 points – all in the second half – for Sierra Canyon, which competed without Jerzy Robinson, one of the elite players in the county in the Class of 2026, as well as returning forward Emilia Krstevski.
Returning standouts Alexie Wehrle, Charis Rainey and Amel Cook combined for 48 points in final for Windward, which produced victories Friday against Middleton High from Idaho and Denver East of Colorado, before knocking off fellow California program Moreno Valley with a 57-42 triumph Saturday morning to advance to the championship.
Wehrle led all scorers against Sierra Canyon with 20 points, with Rainey adding 16 and Cook contributing 12, including a pair of 3-pointers.
Habis added three 3-point field goals for Windward, which reached the Southern California Division 1 regional final last year under coach Rachel Schrote.
Payton Montgomery scored 13 points, Marley Rambert had 11 points, Jordyn Malek added nine points, Rosie Oladokun contributed eight points and Cali Suzuki produced seven points for Sierra Canyon, which advanced to the Southern California regional semifinals in the Open Division state playoffs under coach Alicia Komaki.
Sierra Canyon earned wins Friday against Las Vegas Centennial and California rival Mater Dei, before edging Valley Vista of Arizona by a 60-56 margin in Saturday’s semifinals to move on to the championship.
Sierra Canyon made eight 3-pointers against Windward, including three by Malek and two each from Oladokun and White.
Moreno Valley rebounded to achieve a 57-48 victory against Valley Vista to capture third place.
Mater Dei posted a 52-44 triumph over fellow California program La Jolla Country Day to take fifth.