Paloma Valley now two wins away from state championship

Wildcats team members were all smiles at their postgame dinner after winning Saturday night in Santa Maria. Photo by Matt Dale

The Paloma Valley Wildcats are now just two wins away from a state championship in girls basketball.

Playing in front of a loud opposing crowd in a packed gym in Santa Maria, the Wildcats defeated top-seeded Righetti, 60-54, in the CIF State Southern Regional semifinals Saturday night. Paloma Valley is now 33-3 this season and will play in the Southern Regional finals Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Peninsula High in Rolling Hills Estates.

Just a week after winning their first CIF Southern Section championship, Paloma Valley is closing in on a March 13 appearance in Sacramento. If the Wildcats win on Tuesday, they will play the winner of the Northern Regional final between Aptos and Woodside Priory up north three days later for the state title.

“The atmosphere in there was incredible,” coach Matt Dale said in a phone interview after the game. “It was a packed gym; their student section is right on the court. That gym is not big, but it is loud. There were a couple moments it was impossible to talk to the person next to you.

“I don’t think it bothered our girls one bit. I don’t think any part of the game was too big for our girls. They were confident walking in the same way they were walking out. And we had a crowd, too. We probably had 50 fans – family and friends who drove up for the game.”

Righetti guard Alexandria Pacquet got the home crowd going early by hitting a long 3-point shot in the opening seconds. The Wildcats weren’t fazed, however, and raced to a 17-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. But in the second quarter, star forward Sydney Woodley had to sit after picking up her third foul and the host Warriors trailed just 25-22 at halftime.

The Wildcats came out strong in the third quarter and led by 14 points at 38-24, but with Woodley out of the game again after picking up her fourth foul, Righetti rallied. When Pacquet hit another 3-pointer to close out the third quarter, the game was tied at 42.

“As usual, Sydney gets an incredibly tough player to defend,” Dale said. “She did another good job and finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds.”

In a wild fourth quarter, Woodley pulled down a key offensive rebound and scored on a putback, as did guard Breeann Willich. Trinitee Bradley (right, in a previous game) finished with 18 points, including five 3-pointers. She hit two 3s in the final period.

“Trinitee had one of her best games,” Dale said. “She played with a confidence I hadn’t seen since November. Tonight, she was like a different girl. She was bouncing around the court like someone who was really ready to play.

“She seems to be most comfortable when she’s playing opposition that is really physical and competitive, when there’s an adversarial element,” Dale said.

Mya Pierfax finished with 18 points and 5 steals. Willich finished with nine points, while freshman Christianna Hawkins finished with 7 rebounds – 6 on the offensive boards.

“The work load is definitely spread around,” Dale said. “The girls coming off the bench who defend so well don’t get any fanfare, but that’s a big part of our game.

“I thought that was as good a team as we’ve played. Whatever comes next, we’ll be up for it.”