Novato cheer claims its fifth consecutive national crown
Novato High Varsity Cheer and Dance won the Level 1 National Championship at JAMZ, Jan. 27-28, in Las Vegas. Novato, the fivetime champions, needed to come from behind for the first time during the course of their run at the top to clinch the win.
Novato previously won national titles in 2022, 2021, 2019, and 2018.
The cheer team roster includes: Gabi Ayala, Sophia DeMoe, Emily Everson, Brylee Funk, Olivia Hall, Sloane Hovey, Greta Kuerschner, Megan McEligot, Hazel Periera, Sofia Portocarrero, Danielle Sewing, Jasmine Sewing, Nina Tournache, Ada Valencia, Jimena Vasquez, Stella Webber, Maisy Weber, Molly Weins and Keira Welch. The team is coached by Patti Nave, Dolly-Quintana and Marcy Lee.
• San Rafael High School is scheduled to host the NorCal Spirit of Cheer event Saturday. Gates open at 10:30 a.m. and the San Rafael cheer team is expected to perform at 11:49 a.m., followed later by junior varsity and coed performances. There will be 50 performances in all from different teams. Admission is $10.
Girls basketball
San Marin fell behind early but rallied to defeat host Archie Williams, 3726, Thursday. Lailah Carey led the Mustangs (20-5, 13-2 MCAL) with 11 points, seven steals and six rebounds. Carey teamed with Keeley Wright on defense
to limit the Falcons (1511, 8-7) and Carly Amborn, who scored nine points.
San Marin is scheduled to close out the regular season Saturday against Tam, while Archie Williams takes on Marin Catholic.
• Bolstered by the return of guard Rosie Slayen, the Branson School handed San Rafael a 65-33 defeat. Slayen and Hannah Golan anchored a core of Branson players to score in double figures. The Bulls (14-10, 11-4 MCAL), who face fourth-place Redwood in Saturday's regular-season finale, are locked into the third position for next week's MCAL playoffs. San Rafael ends its season seventh in the MCAL at 7-18 overall, 4-12 league.
College baseball
After a lengthy drive to Visalia, College of Marin baseball stumbled late in Thursday afternoon's 9-7 loss to host College of the Sequoias. The contest was
the first of a three-game road series against the Giants in three days.
The Mariners (1-3) fell behind 4-1 in the bottom of the first inning, but rallied with a five-run fourth inning boosted by a two-run double by Jacob Campbell. The Giants (1-3) pounded out four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, however, to retake the lead and clinch the win.
The hot-hitting Campbell was 3-for-4 with his second home run of the week. Lucas Schaefer, Chris Delangis and Payton Harris each had two hits for Marin. The two teams square off again Friday at noon.
Women's basketball
Isobel Crosswhite posted her ninth double-double of the season to lead College of Marin to a 68-45 win over Contra Costa College on Wednesday evening. The Mariners (14-9, 6-5) led by nine at halftime before pulling away in the third quarter.
Three Mariners reached double digits, led by Jayden Davis with 16 points, Crosswhite (15 points; 14 rebounds), and Aulani Leomiti (11).
• Marin Catholic alumnus Alexa Greenwood scored seven points for Cal Lutheran (11-8, 5-6) in Wednesday's 61-60 loss to Occidental. The sophomore guard also had three rebounds and a steal in 15 minutes on the court. The Regals are scheduled to play Caltech on Saturday.
Men's basketball
Already riding high after a successful January, College of Marin upset Contra Costa College, 72-67, Wednesday night. The Mariners (12-12, 8-4) capped a 6-3 run through January with a 40-point victory over Solano College on Friday, Jan. 27.
Marin trailed the Comets (16-8, 9-3) by as much as 10 points in the first half before a steal by sophomore Blake Murray sent the Mariners on a 9-0 run to take the lead, 25-24. After a back-and-forth battle, the Comets emerged with a one-point halftime lead., but a second-half surge pushed the Mariners to victory.
Freshman Anton Williams and sophomore Daniel Fagan led Marin with 19 points each. Sophomore Lukas Prongos contributed 14 points.
Boys soccer
San Rafael High clinched the MCAL junior varsity title earlier this week.