Mitty clearly deserving of No. 1 ranking
The majority of Mitty’s six girls basketball state championship trophies are displayed inside a glass case down the gym hallway. Those that didn’t fit are randomly positioned in the office of coach Sue Phillips.
The most prominent piece of hardware, the only one that sits on top of her desk, is the runnerup trophy from last year’s CIF State Open Division title game, an excruciating 44-40 loss to Clovis West.
“It’s to remind me how important it is to cherish every single day and not to put so much emphasis on the destination,” she said. “We’re enjoying the process to the fullest — every day, every practice and every game.” It’s showed. The Monarchs (19-0), led by perhaps the country’s best player in junior Haley Jones, have been the consensus No. 1 team in the nation since winning the Nike Tournament of Champions in late December.
Ranked No. 4 before the event, Mitty defeated the three teams ranked ahead of it on consecutive nights, including longtime rival St. Mary’s-Stockton 57-50 in the final.
Jones, a 6-foot-2 wing, had 22 points, 10 rebounds and four assists to earn her the tourney MVP, making her a strong national Player of the Year contender.
She’s averaging 20.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game and every prominent head coach in America is appearing at Mitty games — or is scheduled to do so — including UConn’s Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley of South Carolina.
“She’s put in the time to make herself one of the most versatile players in the country,” Phillips said. “She can literally play any position on the court and do so effectively.” And she’s just the centerpiece. Karisma Ortiz, a 6-foot point guard who has signed with Penn State, is the nation’s 58th-ranked senior. She’s averaging 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists.
San Diego-signee Nicole Blakes, a 6-2 post, averages 14.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game.
Krissy Miyahara, a 5-2 guard, has made 42 three-pointers in 95 attempts (44 percent) nd averages 7.8 points per game.
“Haley and Karisma are playing like All-Americans, Nicole is playing like a Division I post and Krissy is playing like a college player and making her threes,” Phillips said. “All the girls are stepping up. It’s a very special team and we embrace that. But it is only February.”
The Monarchs were also No. 1 heading into last season’s finale with No. 2 Clovis West. Mitty led 37-30 with 5:42 to go, but didn’t make another field goal the rest of the way.
Phillips, who has won 657 games and 19 Central Coast Section, 20 league and 12 Northern California titles in her 26 seasons, called it one of the toughest defeats in school history.
Clearly, the Monarchs have put it behind them.
“Lessons were learned, by all of us,” she said. “As coaches and players, we can’t have any regrets. Sure, there (were) disappointments, but we as coaches and educators have to be voices of reason and perspective.
“I’m proud of where we are, what we learned and where we’re going each day.”
On Wednesday, the host Monarchs set a school scoring record in a 104-66 win over previously ranked Valley Christian, only the second time the Monarchs have reached triple digits.
Jones had 32 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Ortiz recorded a triple-double (17 points, 14 assists, 11 rebounds), Blakes added 20 points and Miyahara 17, including five threepointers.
“This team plays with great tempo and efficiency,” said Phillips. “About one-third of their baskets come on assists. What more can you ask then sharing the basketball?
“They’re just really fun to watch.”