Jordin Blackmon
Bishop Montgomery, Junior
Heading into the season, Bishop Montgomery junior Jordin Blackmon had what appeared to be simple goals and motivations.
“I just wanted to go out and play super well and get a ring,” Blackmon said. “Our team dynamic wasn't great last season and it showed on the floor. We had a lot of tough losses and it made for a miserable season, and I wanted this season to be better.”
Blackmon and the Knights regrouped and refocused for the 2023-24 season. Bishop Montgomery won the Del Rey League championship, earned a berth in the CIF Southern Section Open Division playoffs and ultimately won the ring, as the CIF State Division I champion.
Off the court, Blackmon said the turning point started during a preseason retreat with teammates and coaching staff.
“We got closer that day and it happened really fast,” she said. “We're all kind of the same … very goofy, outgoing team … No phones, we just sat and talked and had a good time, it was really important to have.”
Blackmon's role continued to evolve during the season, especially on the defensive end.
“She really stepped up defensively,” Bishop Montgomery coach Rheina Ale said. “She took on the (opposition's) best player, she likes those assignments.” Blackmon said improving on the defensive end was another one of her goals.
“I've had a lot of responsibility in a little time,” she said. “Being surrounded by people that could score took some of the (offensive) pressure off of me. I wanted to improve my defense and focus on defense.”
Aside from her defensive duties, Blackmon led the Knights by averaging 13.5 points a game. She also averaged six rebounds. She was the Del Rey League MVP and eclipsed the 1,000-point mark in her career.
“That was one of the best moments of my high school career,” she said. “If you would have asked me my freshman year if I would have hit 1,000 (points), I would have said no.”
She capped the season in the state championship game, scoring 11 points in the opening minutes to set the Knights on the path to the win.
“I wanted to go to state and win,” she said. “I wasn't worried about anything on the court, just wanted to make sure my team was able to finish the year strong.”
Next year's goals will again be simple for Blackmon.
“I want to play in college,” she said. “I don't have a specific city or state. I have a lot of stuff I need to do to narrow down where I want to go.
“The biggest goal is get a ring again and do better than we did year … Play harder, get another ring.”
RHEINA ALE, Bishop Montgomery
In his first season in 2022-23, Rheina Ale and the Knights won 20games and reached the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs. This season, they took a big step forward by posting a 23-5record, again making the Open Division playoffs and capped the season by winning a CIF State title. The Knights went 1-2in the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs, but still qualified for the state playoffs. They received the No. 1seed in the CIF SoCal Division I regional and went on to claim their first state crown since 2003.