Salesian goes long, tops O’Dowd for title

Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland’s girls basketball team had just finished a 20-4 run to take its first lead since the second quarter.

Salesian-Richmond had lost all its momentum, its offense was a mess and the shot clock was winding down.

No fear. Nia Chinn came to the rescue.

The 5-foot-5 sophomore drilled a long three-pointer with 1:35 remaining to put Salesian up for good en route to a 46-42 North Coast Section Division 3 championship victory Saturday at St. Mary’s College.

“Everyone on our bench knew it was going in,” Salesian coach Stephen Pezzola said of the basket that put the Pride up 44-42. “The only question was if it was going to draw iron or swish.”

For the record, the shot swished, and Chinn wasn’t done. A minute later, she stole a pass to the wing and went in for a left-handed layup with 30.8 seconds left to seal the victory and Salesian’s third straight NCS title and fourth in six years.

It was also the second straight win for second-seeded Salesian (24-8) over top-seeded O’Dowd (26-4), which lost 39-38 to the Pride on Jan. 7.

“That’s Nia,” Pezzola said. “She’s a great defender and

plays with a lot of confidence.”

Chinn’s late heroics were typical for the Pride, according to Pezzola. “It’s always someone different and unexpected,” he said.

Makayla Edwards (14 points) was Salesian’s best offensive player throughout, and 6-5 sophomore post player Angel Jackson, coming off a 25-point game in the semifinals, had only three points but was a gamechanger on defense with 12 blocks. She also had 15 rebounds.

Jackson missed several inside shots early as O’Dowd streaked to a 13-2 lead. Salesian caught up and, with an 18-8 run in the second, took a 30-21 halftime lead.

That lead stretched to 37-22 midway the third, before O’Dowd locked down on defense and chipped away behind Myah Pace (11 points), Zakiya Mahoney and Jada Holland.

A three-pointer by Lexi Love closed the game to 39-36, and after two free throws by Edwards, O’Dowd scored six straight, capped by a layup and jumper by Mahoney, to put the Dragons up 42-41 with 2:58 left. That’s when Chinn took over. “That’s Salesian basketball,” Pezzola said of the team’s early deficit. “We never give up. We never think we’re behind.”

Both teams figure to be called up to Northern California’s Open Division bracket, which will be announced Sunday.

Miramonte-Orinda 84, Montgomery-Santa Rosa 44: Elle Louie had 16 points, Clair Steele 15 and Jordyn Bryant 14 as the top-seeded Matadors (27-3) won their fourth straight NCS title and ninth overall with a Division 2 win at St. Mary’s. Louie had 12 points and six steals in the first quarter as Miramonte jumped to a 24-4 lead. Colette Kirkpatrick made four threepointers off the bench for 12 points for Miramonte. Trinity Hawkins had nine points for Montgomery (24-7). Miramonte, the defending NorCal Open Division champ, will likely be called up to that division again.

CENTRAL COAST SECTION

Palo Alto 52, Los Gatos 41: Lauren Koyama had 15 points and Maya Lathi added 12 points and 11 rebounds as the top-seeded Vikings (22-3) won their second straight Division 1 title at Santa Clara University. Sabrina Belquist came off the bench to score 13 points and Josie Despars added 11 for Los Gatos (21-6). A 15-5 run in the third quarter was the key for Palo Alto.

Presentation 48, Leigh-San Jose

33: Sharon Rolden had 13 points and Ava Williams 11 as the top-seeded Panthers (15-12) captured their fourth championship with a Division 2 win over the Longhorns (21-7), who got 15 points from Rene Wash.

Half Moon Bay 56, Sacred Heart

Prep-Atherton 46: After scoring just three points in the second quarter, the Cougars erupted for 23 third-quarter points en route to a Division 4 championship win at Santa Clara High. Point guard Addison Walling scored six of her team-high 13 points in the third quarter for Half Moon Bay (21-8). Sacred Heart Prep (13-12) was led by junior guard Grace Battles with 15 points.