Many years have passed since any Culver High School athletic squad has celebrated a CIF championship. That changed last Friday night in Santa Ana when the girls varsity basketball team captured the CIF Division 2AA finals with a hard-fought 55-49 win over Mira Costa.
The victory gives the girls’ team its first title in 35 years (1979). The CIF crown is the first for Culver High since 1982 when the boys’ soccer team won the championship.
The Centaur girls begin competition in the state playoffs this week.
In the first half, the Centaurs swarmed opposing ball handlers which forced poor shot selection, while the Mustangs implemented a tough press that created several turnovers. Mira Costa gained the early advantage, but Culver finished the quarter on a 9-2 run for a 12-9 lead.
The Lady Centaurs extended their lead in the second and third quarters as they forced the Mustangs to shoot less than 30 percent from the field. Culver was able to break Costa’s press and built a 26-17 halftime advantage and then built up a 15-point lead midway through the third quarter.
Centaur coach Julian Anderson shortened his bench for this final match and had his starters play the bulk of the contest.
Senior Michelle Curry led Culver City with a game high 22 points along with five rebounds. Senior Kelsey Ueda contributed 12 points while juniors Lindsey Tanita and Megan Yoon combined for eight points, six assists, and eight rebounds. Despite an injury, sophomore Kailey Tooke provided 11 points and five rebounds. Juniors Gwedolyn Machado and Katie Lin along with sophomore Kate Suyetsugu came off the bench and assisted with valuable minutes.
Senior Kelli Tademaru and sophomores Alexis Arancibia and Alexis Aquino gave encouragement to their teammates despite not getting into the game.
Down by 10 points to start the fourth quarter, Mira Costa continued to battle. The Mustangs controlled the offensive glass and that led to multiple opportunities. Led by junior Keilani Ikehara (10 points, five assists, four rebounds) and senior Camille Mills (10 points, six rebounds), the Mustangs went on a 13-2 run that erased their deficit and gave them their first lead since the first quarter.
Freshman Halle Maeda provided eight points and four rebounds while freshman Allie Navarette contributed six points with one rebound.
However, Culver City fought through the momentum shift and regained the lead. The Centaurs hit a couple of key baskets, tightened defensively, and converted late free throws to seal the victory.
The Lady Centaurs carry an undefeated record in the Ocean League the last three seasons (30-0) and are 40-10 in the last five. Overall, they are an 106- 47 the last five years, which includes a 75-20 record since 2012.
Culver reached the final four in 2012, the finals in 2013, and can now add a CIF championship to its resume.