No CIF Repeat For Guards!

PROVIDENCE HIGH — Top-seeded Bell-Jeff upset in Division IVA semifinal against Windward, 61-57.
Being the No. 1 seed, the Bellarmine-Jefferson High girls’ basketball team was the favorite to advance to its third straight division championship.

With the reputation as one of the top programs in the state, and coming off CIF Southern Section and state titles last season, many believed the Guards had the talent to repeat.

But reputation alone doesn’t win games.

Facing No. 4 Windward on Saturday in a Division IVA semifinal game, Bell-Jeff had trouble with the Wildcats’ height, wasn’t as affective with its signature pressure defense and suffered through some ball-handling woes. As a result, the Guards fell behind and couldn’t fight their way back in a 61-57 loss at Providence High.

Saturday’s loss doesn’t necessarily end the season for the Guards (24-6). There is still a chance the team could be invited to take part in the state tournament. State tourney brackets are set to be released Sunday.

Last season, Bell-Jeff became the only team in city history — in any sport — to capture a state championship.

The Guards — who won their third straight Santa Cruz League championship this season — definitely had their problems with Windward (18-9), which won an Olympic League title. They had the most trouble trying to contain 6-foot-6 sophomore Imani Stafford. Stafford was able to dominate inside the paint, scoring 21 points and hauling in 25 rebounds.

“You have to definitely give credit to Windward,” Camacho said. “They came in confident and they played a very good game. They were able to handle our defensive pressure, and that paid off.

“But we didn’t take care of the ball like we should have. Also, we had a chance to take it back at the end, but we just fell short.”

Trying to overcome a 13-point deficit in the early moments of the fourth quarter, Bell-Jeff made its comeback surge. It whittled down the lead to one, 57-56, with 2:33 remaining when Guards’ senior Julia Tani sank two free throws.

After a Wildcat basket, a Bell-Jeff free throw and a Windward free throw, the Guards had a chance to tie the game with 17 seconds left, trailing, 60-57. But the shot missed its mark. Stafford was able to convert a free throw with 1.7 left to ice the win.

“What really hurt us was that Windward was able to get their offensive rebounds,” Camacho said. “They got a lot of put-backs under the basket.”

What also hurt Bell-Jeff was its ability to take care of the ball, as the team committed 18 turnovers in the contest.

The Guards began the game with an offensive push. Spearheaded by 10 first-quarter points from Tani, Bell-Jeff took a 22-13 lead after one quarter.

But the Wildcats roared back in the second quarter, outscoring the Guards, 22-11, to take a 35-32 lead into halftime.

The teams traded lead changes early in the third quarter, until Windward made a run late to take an 11-point lead into the final quarter. The Guards, who were outscored, 18-9, in the third, committed seven turnovers in the stanza.

The Wildcats went ahead, 41-40, in the third quarter and never trailed after that point.

Tani paced the Guards with 15 points. Sophomore Jasmine Smith had 12 rebounds.

By Jeff Tully