Balanced Brentwood attack results in all five starters scoring in double figures in first-round win against Heritage in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 girls basketball playoffs

LOS ANGELES – For all that senior guards Lev Feiman and Payton Sugar have accomplished during their remarkable basketball careers at Brentwood School, perhaps the most valuable contributions for the Eagles aren’t their individual school records, rather, how they have elevated the performances of their teammates, especially during the postseason.

Feiman added 14 points to her Brentwood career scoring record Thursday night against Heritage High from Menifee and Sugar connected on three more 3-point field goals to increase her all-time mark for the Eagles, but the most significant impact was evident with all five starters finishing in double figures to accumulate 68 points among the quintet in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.

Brentwood also benefited from 34 points off 30 turnovers by the visiting Patriots, as the No. 2 Eagles scored 11 in a row in less than 90 seconds early in the second quarter and never relinquished control in an 80-45 victory, the fourth consecutive year the program has prevailed in its playoff opener.

Post-game interviews

Brentwood (22-7), which won the Division 1 title last year after capturing the Division 2-A crown in 2023, travels Saturday for a second-round showdown against Corona Centennial (16-9), a 66-43 winner Thursday against Villa Park (24-5).

The Eagles secured a 52-49 victory Nov. 26 against Corona Centennial – 10-1 in its past 11 contests – but the schools have never squared off in a playoff game.

Brentwood girls basketball | Photo courtesy of Brentwood girls basketball

Logan Scott, a junior forward who didn’t score for Brentwood in its season-opening win over Corona Centennial, contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds Thursday against Heritage (19-10).

Kelsey Sugar, a sophomore guard, matched her top high school performance for the Eagles with 16 points, in addition to recording five rebounds and a career-high 10 steals.

Kelsey Sugar also had 16 points during her freshman season against Golden Valley.

Reena White, a sophomore guard, added 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals for the Eagles, who held a 45-27 advantage at halftime.

Feiman, who surpassed Kennedy Martin as the Eagles’ all-time scoring leader Feb. 5 in the regular-season finale against Palos Verdes, enters the Corona Centennial matchup with 1,721 career points.

Feiman, a UC San Diego-bound guard, added six rebounds, four assists and three steals for Brentwood, which scored the final 10 points of the third quarter to extend the lead to 66-37 entering the fourth.

Payton Sugar, who produced 13 points and four rebounds, improved her season total for 3-point field goals to 116 and increased her career mark to 336, surpassing former Mater Dei All-American Katie Lou Samuelson on the state’s all-time list, according to Cal-Hi Sports.

Payton Sugar, who ranks No. 7 in Southern Section history for career 3-pointers, is also tied for 21st all-time in the state with Poway’s Katie Kuklok.

The next target for Payton Sugar in Saturday’s contest is another Mater Dei All-American in Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, who is No. 6 all-time in the Southern Section and 20th in state history with 337 career 3-pointers.

The Eagles hit eight 3-pointers as a team against Heritage – including one each from junior Angelica Pascual and sophomore Lei Tomatsu – and rank second in the state this season at 342, trailing only the 365 3-point field goals made by Mission Hills.

Heritage, which recorded 15 offensive rebounds as a team, was led by 18 points from junior LaKaila Trimble.

Reg’inae Hardin, a senior, contributed eight points and sophomore Legacy Benjamin added seven points for the Patriots before aggravating her left ankle in the fourth quarter.

Cori Benjamin, a junior who joined her sister in gaining eligibility late in the regular season for Heritage, scored only two points, but grabbed 10 rebounds for the Patriots.