SD becomes 4th Marin team to return to State
The winter postseason was narrowed down to regional basketball finalists only this past week. In Marin, the San Domenico girls were the last team standing.
The Panthers got a pair of big games from senior center Maja Cykowska and a big scoring game from guard Summer Jenkins when they returned to Sacramento on Friday for a rematch of last year's title game against Shalhevet.
The Panthers' back-toback runs to Sacramento mark the fourth time this century that a Marin team has qualified for two consecutive state title games.
The Branson boys program accomplished the feat four consecutive times from 2005 to 2008, winning in its last three appearances with coach Jonas Honick at the helm. The Branson girls accomplished it by winning titles in 2007 and 2008 with current San Domenico coach Mike Fulton.
The Branson girls accomplished the feat again by qualifying for the 2020 title game that was wiped out at the start of the COVID pandemic then winning the 2022 title game. The state playoffs were not held in 2021.
Cykowska, the Panthers' lone senior, led the way in the most important games of San Domenico's season this past week. Cykowska scored a game-high 14 points as San Domenico outlasted Menlo 42-39 in the NorCal Division IV title game on Tuesday at Dominican University. Although the Panthers came up just short against Shalhevet
in the state title game, losing 50-46, Cykowska — who came to San Domenico two years ago from Poland — posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. “She's a special player and a special human being,” Fulton said. “I'm just sorry I had her on the team for only two years.” Jenkins, who had been battling injury issues throughout the regular season, poured in a team-high 15 points against Shalhevet.
REDWOOD Minty started on the mound in Redwood's MCAL opener against San Marin on Tuesday, limiting the Mustangs to one run while striking out six and scattering 10 hits over his seven innings of work. Minty was also the catalyst for Redwood's offense, going 2 for 2 at the plate, scoring twice and driving in three runs. Redwood is slated to play a home-andhome series against Tam beginning at home on Tuesday, weather permitting.
Buxton went six innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out six as the Red-tailed Hawks opened the week with a 7-0 win against San Rafael. Buxton got it done at the plate in Friday's rematch, hitting a two-run triple in the second inning as Tam started fast en route to a 10-1 victory.
Harrison started the week on a blistering pace at the pace, going 4 for 4 in a 16-2 victory against El Cerrito on Monday. Harrison singled in the first and third innings and doubled in the second and fifth innings, driving in a pair of runs, scoring four times and also drawing a a walk. Harrison was limited to one hit in a 9-8 win against Amador Valley but her double in the bottom of the fifth inning scored Sammy Horn — who had six hits across the two games in her own right — to start MC's comeback from down 3-1.
The Hornets' catcher went 6 for 8 at the plate in two games, including three doubles, as Novato went 2-0 following a 14-7 road win against St. Patrick-St. Vincent and a 13-2 victory at home against Healdsburg. Flores hit a pair of doubles and scored four runs against Healdsburg. Novato also got big weeks from Brooke Younkin (complete game against SPSV) and Allie Tubach (four hits, four runs against SPSV; pitched three no-hit innings against Healdsburg).