CHAMPS FIND SPOT IN CAVERS HISTORY

There is no Charde Houston. No Paris Johnson.

Yet this season’s San Diego High girls basketball team shares something with those two all-time standouts in that they’ll be hanging a championship banner after downing Clairemont on Saturday afternoon at Mission Bay High 56-47.

Yes, it’s a San Diego Section Division IV title, but the Cavers girls really don’t care.

A championship is a championship and topseeded San Diego advances to the Southern California Regionals starting Tuesday.

There is a connection to those hallowed teams of the past as Andrea Bird, a key member of the 2012 Division I title team, is the one calling the plays.

“I was more nervous before this game than any one I played in high school,” said the coach.

“I have no control over the kids, but I know they’ll play hard.”

Especially seniors Maddie Black and Elisabeth Beesley, who helped San Diego (20-8) pull away after leading just 44-40.

Beesley buried a 3-point field goal and Black scored on three consecutive layups. Suddenly a close game wasn’t.

Black not only led all scorers with 20 points, she guarded Clairemont’s Rachel Bonenberger, holding the Chieftains’ No. 1 scorer at 21.6 points a game to just 11.

“I take great pride in defense,” said Black. “If the offense isn’t there, I can always fall back on my defense.”

The offense was there and those three layups came off steals — part of 25 turnovers by the No. 3 Chieftains (19-13).

“I can’t tell you how I felt on those three plays — it was amazing,” said Black. “I knew it changed the game. Last year we didn’t even make the playoffs. This might be the happiest moment ever.”

You sensed one of the two teams was eventually going to break away after both had early runs that showed the ability they had to make the finals.

In Clairemont’s defense, Bonenberger jammed her middle finger in practice the day before the game — finishing with 11 boards for a double-double. Isabella Jameson paced the Chiefs with 18 points.