Although the Bellarmine-Jefferson High softball team has a new coach this season, the Guards were able to maintain the success they have enjoyed in the Santa Cruz League the previous two years.

Bell-Jeff easily defeated St. Anthony, 18-0, Monday at Gross Park to secure the Santa Cruz League championship. It was the Guards’ third straight league crown.

The game was called after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

“It was the No. 1 priority for us this season to win a league championship,” Bell-Jeff Coach Florencio Galindo said. “Before you can get to the playoffs you have to do well in your league, and it was always our goal to win league this season.”

The Guards (19-5, 7-0 in league), who are ranked No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division VII behind No. 1 Pomona Catholic, will find out who they will open up against in the playoffs when the pairings are released Monday.

Last season, Bell-Jeff advanced to the divisional championship game for the first time, losing to Pomona Catholic.

Against St. Anthony, the Guards received a fine effort by starting pitcher Amanda Maalouf. Maalouf went the distance, recording a two-hitter while striking out 10.

Monique Landini paced the offense with a two-run home run.

“Being league champions is something the girls can be proud of,” Galindo said. “They have worked very hard for this.”

Jeff Tully

PLAYER OF THE YEAR -

RISHONDA NAPIER, Bell-Jeff, Sr.

The four-year starter contributed to 106 career victories and four Santa Cruz League titles, securing MVP this season.

Napier helped the Guards overcome a 5-6 start to produce 13 consecutive victories on their way to reaching the Southern Section Div. IV-AA semifinals and the Southern California Div. IV regional quarterfinals.

The 5-foot-6 guard was also a Div. IV-AA first-team selection and McDonald’s All-America nominee, averaging better than 24 points per game during the Guards’ final 10 contests and scoring in double figures in all 33 games.

Napier, a Southern Illinois signee, finished averaging 21.7 points, to go along with 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals, shooting 42 percent from 3-point range.

She had a career-high 34 points in a 65-54 quarterfinal win at Chaminade.

COACH OF THE YEAR

ANDREW BENCZE, Providence

While most of the buzz on the Providence campus during the season surrounded freshman Marcus LoVett, Jr. and the boys’ basketball team reaching the Southern Section Div. V-A final, Bencze quietly led the Pioneers girls’ basketball team to 27 victories and its most successful season. Despite senior Catherine Saint being injured for the majority of the postseason, Providence relied on its depth and defense to reach the Div. V-AA semifinals. Providence also secured its first two state wins, advancing to the Div. V regional semifinals.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

KENNEDY BURKE, Sierra Canyon, Fr.

When Sierra Canyon and Alemany met Dec. 26, two of the elite freshman guards in California were showcased with Burke and the Warriors’ Breanna Calhoun. Unfortunately for Calhoun, a left knee injury suffered Jan. 20 forced her to miss the final 14 games of the season. But Burke, the younger sister of North Carolina State’s Kody, continued to lead a young lineup to an 18-win season and the second round of the Div. IV-AA playoffs, averaging 14.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.8 blocks, securing Alpha League first-team honors.

FIRST TEAM

AYISAT AFOLABI, Monroe, Jr.

The East Valley League MVP and All-City first-team selection averaged 20 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.5 steals, leading the Vikings to a third straight City Section final.

BRIANNA BARRETT, Oaks Christian, Sr.

The USC-bound guard averaged 12.5 points, 6.0 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 3.4 steals to lead the Lions to the Div.IV-AA quarterfinals. Barrett was selected Tri-Valley League MVP and received Div. IV-AA first-team honors.

KYLIE CUNNINGHAM, Agoura, Sr.

Concluded her four-year career with more than 1,800 points, securing Marmonte League MVP and Div. III-AAA first-team honors. Cunningham averaged 19.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 4.0 steals for the Chargers.

MEGAN DAWE, Saugus, Sr.

The Foothill League MVP, the NYU-bound Dawe became the Centurions’ career scoring leader with 1,273 points — 568 this season — along with 732 career rebounds, which ranks third. Dawe averaged 19.6 points and 9.4 rebounds, earning Div. II-A first-team recognition.

LAUREN HOLIDAY, Campbell Hall, Sr.

The Southern Section Div. IV-A player of the year averaged better than 20 points and 10 rebounds, leading the Vikings to their first division title and Div. IV state victory. The UCLA signee was an Alpha League first-teamer.

HANNAH JOHNSON, Alemany, Soph.

An All-Mission League and Div. III-AA first-team selection, Johnson helped the Warriors reach the division final and Southern California Div. III regional semifinals. She helped Alemany share the league title with Chaminade.

LESLIE LOPEZ-WOOD, Alemany, Jr.

Following her transfer from Bell-Jeff, Lopez-Wood made a big impact, helping the Warriors capture titles at the Nike Tournament of Champions and West Coast Holiday Festival. An All-Mission League and Div. III-AA first-team pick, the San Francisco commit had 23 points in the final.

KEIONA MATHEWS, Antelope Valley, Sr.

Mathews averaged 22.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.6 steals and 3.5 assists, securing Golden League MVP honors after helping the Antelopes win a third consecutive title.

MONET McNALLY, L.A. Baptist, Sr.

McNally set the Knights’ season scoring record with 729 points and finished with 1,817 career points. The Olympic League MVP and Div. IV-A first-team selection averaged 26 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 3.3 assists.

DESTINI PRICE, Antelope Valley, Sr.

The Fresno State-bound Price knocked down 52 3-pointers to go along with 18 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2 steals per game, earning All-Golden League and Div. III-AA first-team honors.

TIFFINI STONE, Canyon, Sr.

Stone elevated her level of play in the Foothill League and playoffs, helping the Cowboys reach the Div. II-AA quarterfinals. An all-league and Div. II-AA first-team pick, she averaged 14 points and 5 rebounds.

JASMINE SMITH, Bell-Jeff, Sr.

Smith averaged 15.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals. The San Jose State signee secured All-Santa Cruz League first-team honors, helping Bell-Jeff reach the Div. IV-AA semifinals and the Div. IV regional quarterfinals.

ANNIE TARAKCHIAN, Chaminade, Sr.

The Eagles’ all-time leading rebounder with 1,296, to go along with 1,408 career points, 329 assists and 252 blocks, Tarakchian was the Mission League MVP and Div. IV-AA first-team selection, Tarakchian averaged 14.8 points and 14.7 rebounds for the league co-champs.

SECOND TEAM

Nicholle Aston, Louisville, Jr.

Breanna Calhoun, Alemany, Fr.

Natalie Florescu, Harvard-Westlake, Jr.

Kendall Frisoli, Thousand Oaks, Jr.

Kelsey Haines, Oak Park, Sr.

Shannon Kingery, El Camino Real, Sr.

Alia McCoy, Canyon, Sr.

Aubree Mittel, Royal, Sr.

Geraldynn Leaupepe, Camarillo, Soph.

Geralynn Leaupepe, Camarillo, Soph.

Meghan McIntyre, Oaks Christian, Jr.

Jaya Schultz, Canyon, Jr.

Leslie Schuman, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.

Kailee Severt, Oaks Christian, Soph.

Aysia Shellmire, Burroughs, Jr.

Nicole Tolbert, Campbell Hall, Sr.

Heather Tomaszewski, Royal, Sr.

Katherine Wright, Notre Dame, Jr.

Mi’Chael Wright, Chaminade, Jr.

HONORABLE MENTION

Whitney Branham, West Ranch, Soph.

Robyn Brown, Chaminade, Jr.

Sarah Bucknovitz, Oak Park, Jr.

Cora Chan, El Camino Real, Jr.

Courtney Chen, La Canada, Soph.

Judith Espinoza, Eagle Rock, Soph.

Jennifer Franco, Kennedy, Sr.

Breanne Gascon, Camarillo, Sr.

Damarie Gonzalez, Burbank, Sr.

Hannah Green, West Ranch, Jr.

Arianna Halamandaris, Moorpark, Sr.

Ahlisha Henderson, Reseda, Jr.

Mariah Howard, Cleveland, Sr.

Ashley Kelsick, Highland, Soph.

Shawn Kolani, Taft, Sr.

Clarissa Larios, Alemany, Jr.

Beth Mounier, Oaks Christian, Jr.

Toni Oni, Sierra Canyon, Sr.

Katie Ortiz, L.A. Baptist, Sr.

Jordan Oster, Saugus, Sr.

Catherine Saint, Providence, Sr.

Ella Stepanian, Crescenta Valley, Soph.

Kalia Summerlin, Valencia, Sr.

Jecenia Trinidad, Monroe, Sr.

Cheyanne Wallace, Sierra Canyon, Fr.

Danielle Ward, Granada Hills, Jr.

TOP TEN RANKINGS

1. Alemany

2. Bell-Jeff

3. Oaks Christian

4. Chaminade

5. Canyon

6. Monroe

7. Camarillo

8. Antelope Valley

9. Sierra Canyon

10. Saugus

LEAGUE CHAMPS

Desert Mountain: Desert Christian

East Valley: Monroe

Foothill: Canyon/Saugus

Frontier: La Reina/Villanova Prep

Golden: Antelope Valley

Heritage: Milken Community

Liberty: Providence

Marmonte: Thousand Oaks

Mission: Alemany/Chaminade

Northern: Eagle Rock

Olympic: L.A. Baptist

Pacific: Muir

Pacific View: Camarillo/Rio Mesa

Santa Cruz: Bell-Jeff

Tri-Valley: Oaks Christian

Valley: SOCES

Valley Mission: Kennedy

Westside: AGBU

West Valley: El Camino Real

GAME OF THE YEAR

ALEMANY VS. LAGUNA HILLS, Feb. 29

The conclusion of regulation at the Southern Section Div. III-AA final couldn’t have been more dramatic. Unfortunately for the Warriors, the ending wasn’t as memorable. After Alemany’s Hannah Johnson was credited for scoring as time expired in regulation when the basket had initially been waved off, the Warriors relied on 23 points from Leslie Lopez-Wood to extend Laguna Hills to double overtime, before falling 59-55. The teams squared off in a rematch in the Southern California Div. III regional semifinals, with the Hawks again prevailing 58-49.

SOUTHEAST GLENDALE —

Behind 19 kills from Ignacio Cabrera and some steady defense from Nikola Novakovic, Bell-Jeff posted a 20-25, 25-21, 25-22, 21-25, 15-10 road win and snapped its five-match losing streak.

“We have a lot of talent it shows when we are in the right spots,” said Segura, whose team improved to 2-7 and played its second consecutive match against a squad from the Pacific League. “We saw glimpses of how we can go out there and be successful.

“We were looking to get that next win under our belts. We hadn’t given up and we were able to do well by making most of our serves.”

After winning the fourth game, Glendale (1-7) appeared to have the momentum. The Nitros twice led briefly in the fifth game, before the Guards turned to Novakovic to close out the match.

It had been a rough last several days for Novakovic, who suffered a concussion and a black left eye after doing a back flip prior to Friday’s nonleague match against Burbank. He didn’t compete Friday in a four-game loss against the Bulldogs, but received medical clearance to compete Monday.

The Guards needed him down the stretch.

“We had to stay calm going into that fifth game,” said Novakovic, who registered three of his nine kills in the final game. “We wanted that fifth game real bad.

“We played pretty good defense in the last game and we are happy to just get a win.”

Glendale Coach Ta’ase Mose thought the Nitros were in good shape after winning the fourth game.

Instead, Glendale struggled with its passing and made a pair of serving errors.

“We definitely have to improve our passing and work on our serve receiving,” said Mose, who got eight kills from Kevin Fonta and four aces from Josh Collado. “Bell-Jeff played pretty well, but we made too many errors.

“Bell-Jeff did a good job of digging the ball and there’s nothing you can do about that. We had some momentum going into the last game and all of a sudden it just died. You have to play up to 15 [points] or 25.”

The Guards took a 9-8 lead in the fifth game on a kill by Novakovic. After Glendale closed to within 11-9, Bell-Jeff used a 4-1 run to clinch the victory.

In the fourth game, the Guards knotted it at 21 on a serving error. However, the Nitros didn’t let the miscues affect them, as they closed on a 4-0 run.

The third game was tied at 22 before Cabrera recorded two kills to make it 24-22.

The Guards led throughout the second game, jumping to a 6-2 lead on an ace by Colbert Orta. Orta finished with six of his match-high eight aces in the second game.

Glendale never trailed in the first game. An ace by Fonta gave the Nitros an 8-2 lead. A kill by Novakovic brought the Guards to within 13-11, but Glendale used a late 6-4 run to take the first game.

charles.rich@latimes.com

BRACE CANYON PARK —

Freshman Gonzalo Rios is a submarine pitcher. Along with sending the ball to the plate from an unusual angle, he also has a herky-jerky motion and slings the ball rather than throws it.

The right-hander’s style definitely made things tough on the Bell-Jeff, as the Guards struck out 12 times against Rios and could manage just one run in suffering a 7-1 Santa Fe League loss at Brace Canyon Park.

Rios broke his right collarbone two years ago and had had to adapt his throwing motion.

“After I broke it, that’s the way I learned how to throw,” said Rios, whose team is 3-4, 2-1 in league. “I think it kinda throws some batters off.”

First-year Bell-Jeff Coach Kiko Garcia said his team had problems figuring out the starter.

“I think it bothered us a little bit,” Garcia said. “Even myself when I played, I hated those side-slingers. But we needed to make the adjustments in the box against him and I don’t think we were able to do that.”

Rios ended up with a complete game five-hitter, yielding just one run in the first inning.

“For a freshman, he has a big heart and he wants to win,” St. Genevieve Coach Gabriel Reyes said of Rios. “He just goes out there and battles.”

Two-time all-league catcher Mitch Kellogg got the start on the hill for the Guards (1-4, 0-2). Although he got into some trouble in the first inning, the Bell-Jeff infield committed two errors that contributed to the Valiants scoring three in the opening frame.

The Guards came back, however, to notch a run of their own in the bottom of the first. Sam Kachikian singled to left field and scored on an infield error. Kachikian was two for four.

Another Bell-Jeff error in the second inning and one more in the third helped St. Genevieve push across two runs in each frame to take a 7-1 lead.

“When you give a team like [St. Genevieve], a decent baseball club, a lead like that it’s going to be tough to come back,” Garcia said. “But when you don’t swing the bat, nothing can happen. I don’t think that we hit the ball very well against them.”

Bell-Jeff also experienced some troubles on the base paths. Along with having a runner thrown out at home, the team also hit into a 7-4 double play and had another runner picked off after a rundown between first and second.

After a rocky first three innings, Kellogg did settle down, allowing no runs and no hits over the course of the final four innings, including retiring the side in the fourth and fifth.

Ryan Okiishi and Elijah Reed had singles and Matt Landini had a double for Bell-Jeff.

jeff.tully@latimes.com

Girls’ basketball:

While the Guards went undefeated to earn their fifth straight Santa Cruz League championship, the Pioneers also didn’t drop a game in the Liberty League, notching a second-straight title.

The squads had something else in common: they both featured a key player who could step up and make the big play when their team needed them. For Bell-Jeff it was senior Rishonda Napier and for Providence it was junior Bea Benedicto. Fittingly, the pair both garnered their respective league’s top honor. Napier was named the Santa Cruz Player of the Year and Benedicto shared co-Liberty League Player of the Year honors with Leah Purvis of Buckley.

Napier enjoyed a wildly successful season and leaves Bell-Jeff as one of the most decorated basketball players in program history. Earlier this week, she earned her third All-CIFSouthern Section first-team honor. During the season, she was nominated as a McDonald’s All-American.

Napier averaged 21.7 points a game to go along with nearly three assists and three steals a game.

“Just her presence in a lot of games was the reason why we were able to have as successful season as we had,” Bell-Jeff Coach Jaclyn Johnson said. “No one had anyone who could guard her in league.”

Earning first-team all-league accolades for the Guards were seniors Jasmine Smith (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Averie Guzman (six points, five rebounds). The pair, along with Napier, are the last holdovers from a Bell-Jeff team that won Southern Section and state championships in 2009.

Making the second team for Bell-Jeff was senior Kiah Jones and junior Tiffany Kho.

The No. 6 Guards (24-6) advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA semifinals where they fell to No. 7 Gardena Serra, 71-54. The team also won a game in the Division IV state playoffs against Los Angeles Baptist, 70-60, before falling St. Bernard, 65-51.

Benedicto led a team that made history by advancing to the semifinals in the postseason, earning a state playoff bid for the first time and notching two victories in state competition.

Benedicto, who earned second-team All-CIF honors, averaged 11.7 points and 5.6 rebounds a game.

“She is the person teams really, really prepared for,” Providence Coach Andrew Bencze said. “She just worked so hard under the boards and she was a very tough player to contain.”

Senior Catherine Saint (9.8 points and 2.9 steals) and freshman Katia Dabbaghian (7.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.6 steals and three assists) were all-league first-team picks for the Pioneers. The two also earned All-CIF second-team honors.

The No. 3 Pioneers (27-6) went on to the Division V-AA semifinals for the first time in program history, losing to No. 1 Villanova Prep, 48-35. Providence received an invitation to state play and defeated Rock Academy, 68-35, and Orangewood Academy, 44-34, to advance to the regional semifinal. In the game, Providence saw its season come to an end with a 64-28 loss to Mission Prep.

Burbank also enjoyed a historic season, advancing to the semifinals of the playoffs for the first time.

Burbank (19-14) finished second in the Pacific League and qualified to the Division I-A playoffs as the No. 13 seed. The Bulldogs worked their way to the semifinals, losing to No. 1 Summit, 72-49. In the Southern California Regional of the CIF State Basketball Championships, Burbank was defeated in the first round by No. 1 Mater Dei, 77-35.

Senior Damarie Gonzalez, a four-year varsity player who earned All-CIF Southern Section Division I-A first-team honors, was the Bulldogs’ lone first-team all-league pick. Along with averaging 12.2 points a game, Gonzalez also averaged 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.4 steals.

Junior Jamie Gonzalez was a second-team pick and senior Sylvia Granados was honorable mention for the Bulldogs.

Burroughs (12-16) made the playoffs after tying for fourth place in the Pacific League. The Indians had a first-team all-league honoree in junior Aysia Shellmire. Shellmire averaged 15.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 1.6 steals a game.

“She definitely deserved it with the numbers she had,” Burroughs Coach Vicky Oganyan said. “I think she grew a lot as a player this year, having to step up for us this season. Also, leadership wise, I think what she did this year is going to help her next season.”

Freshman Davina Del Castillo was an honorable mention selection.

jeff.tully@latimes.com

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Three area girls’ basketball teams enjoyed historic treks through the CIF Southern Section playoffs this past season.

Burbank High and Providence both advanced past the quarterfinals for the first time and also earned their first trips to state competition.

Bellarmine-Jefferson made its fifth straight appearance in the division semifinals, something no other team in city history has been able to accomplish.

With the historic accomplishments came unparalleled recognition, as all three programs had players earn All-CIF accolades in their respective divisions.

Earning the award for the Bulldogs was senior Damarie Gonzalez, a four-year varsity player who earned Division I-A first-team honors.

The Pioneers had three players honored. Senior Catherine Saint was a first-team selection in Division V-AA, while junior Bea Benedicto and freshman Katia Dabbaghian were second-team picks.

The Guards had a familiar face on the Division IV-AA first-team list. Senior Rishonda Napier, a McDonald’s All-American candidate, made her third appearance on the first team.

Providence Coach Andrew Bencze said it is rewarding to see his players receive the award among their peers.

“It was an appreciation of the kind of season that we had,” he said. “It’s nice to know that the other coaches in the division thought highly of the players on our team this season. It’s really nice for our program and it’s great for the players as well.”

Burbank Coach Bruce Breeden said he can’t remember the last time a Bulldogs player earned All-CIF honors. But as much as Gonzalez meant to the team his season, he said the senior is definitely deserving.

“For her to get All-CIF is awesome,” Breeden said. “I figured with as competitive as our division was, it would probably be a long shot for her to make the list. But to make it on the first team is really something.”

Along with averaging 12.2 points a game, Gonzalez also averaged 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.4 steals a game.

“She is just such a wonderful girl,” Breeden said. “Just to see the progress she’s made the past four years is incredible. She meant a lot to this program, and she was just a steadying force for us. We will definitely miss her.”

Burbank (19-14) finished second in the Pacific League and advanced to the Division I-A playoffs as the No. 13 seed. The Bulldogs worked their way to the semifinals, losing to No. 1 Summit, 72-49. In the Southern California Regional of the CIF State Basketball Championships, Burbank was defeated in the first round by No. 1 Mater Dei, 77-35.

Providence (27-6) rolled to an undisputed Liberty League championship. However, Saint injured an ankle in the final regular season game and missed much of the playoffs.

Undaunted, the No. 3 Pioneers went on to the Division V-AA semifinals for the first time in program history, losing to No. 1 Villanova Prep, 48-35. Providence received an invitation to state play and defeated Rock Academy, 68-35, and Orangewood Academy, 44-34, to advance to the regional semifinal. In the game, Providence saw its season come to an end with a 64-28 loss to Mission Prep.

Saint averaged 9.8 points and 2.9 steals a game.

“It kind of gives you a perspective about how good our season really was when we were able to get to the CIF semifinals without an All-CIF first-team player,” Bencze said.

While Benedicto averaged 11.7 points and 5.6 rebounds a contest, Dabbaghian averaged 7.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.6 steals and three assists.

“Catherine was kind of the flash and dash of our team and Bea was the bring-your-lunch-pail and go-to-work-kind-of-player for us,” Bencze said. “She just worked so hard under the boards and if you didn’t come and prepare for her she would make you pay.

“The thing about Katia is that she really stepped up when Catherine went down. The last couple of weeks of the playoffs she really came up huge for us. She is just so talented and what a great way to start out a career at Providence.”

Benedicto was also named the Liberty League Player of the Year.

Bell-Jeff (24-6) captured its fifth straight Santa Cruz League title. The No. 6 Guards advanced to the Division IV-AA semifinals where they fell to No. 7 Gardena Serra, 71-54. The team also won a game in the Division IV state playoffs against Los Angeles Baptist, 70-60, before falling St. Bernard, 65-51.

Napier averaged 21.7 points a game to go along with nearly three assists and three steals a game.

jeff.tully@latimes.com

Basketball:

The visiting Guards saw their CIF State Division IV aspirations halted in the second round by a taller and quicker St. Bernard squad, 65-51.

The defeat concluded No. 5-seeded Bell-Jeff’s season record at 24-9 and capped the careers of four seniors in guard Rishonda Napier and forwards Jasmine Smith, Marilyn Flynn and Averie Guzman.

Over the last four years in which Napier, Smith and Guzman played together, the Guards captured four straight Santa Cruz League titles, won 103 games and claimed both a CIF Southern Section Division VA title and CIF State Division V championship in 2009.

“This season meant everything to me, it was my senior year,” said Napier, a McDonalds’s All-American candidate who led the Guards with 18 points Saturday evening. “I’ve had a great four years at Bell-Jeff battling with Averie Guzman and Jasmine Smith.

“I’m sad to see it go, but I can’t be but happy of everything we’ve accomplished.”

Bell-Jeff trailed by as many as 21 points with 1:03 left in the third quarter as a layup from St. Bernard’s Cydney Bolton pushed the Vikings (27-8) ahead, 52-31.

The Guards, however, did not fold and responded with a quarter-closing three-pointer from Napier that kick-started a 7-0 run in which Bell-Jeff climbed within 52-38 after a free throw from Napier with 7:23 left in the fourth.

Both teams traded baskets until a free throw from the San Jose State-bound Smith closed Bell-Jeff’s deficit to 56-43 with 4:43 remaining.

Unfortunately for the Guards, they never sliced further into St. Bernard’s advantage and, in fact, fell behind, 62-44, after a three-pointer from Bolton with 1:50 remaining.

“It was hard going into the end because I knew that was the last time I would ever play with those girls,” said Guzman, who scored nine points. “The thought that this is over still hasn’t clicked yet. I’m still expecting to go to practice tomorrow.”

The game slipped away in a third quarter in which St. Bernard won, 22-12, and extended an eight-point halftime advantage into a 52-34 lead.

St. Bernard hit Bell-Jeff with a heavy dose of 6-foot-2 freshman center Lajahna Drummer, who scored eight of her game-high 20 points in the quarter.

In fact, Drummer netted three of the quarter’s first five baskets as the Vikings raced to a 38-24 advantage with 6:11 left on an inside bucket from Drummer.

Bell-Jeff last led in the game at the three-minute mark in the second quarter, 21-20, before the Vikings closed the first half with a 10-1 run.

Napier scored nine points in the first quarter to give the Guards a 15-13 advantage.

“You’re not going to win very many games when you shoot eight for 20 free throws and commit [22] turnovers. St. Bernard is athletic and we can’t give them any breaks,” said Guards Coach Jaclyn Johnson, who also serves as the school’s athletic director.

Johnson addressed her own speculated departure by saying, “I’m always going to be a Guard and I’m always going to be here. I don’t know if I’ll be here in the coaching capacity. That’s still a decision I have to make.”

Smith finished with 13 points and totaled seven of her team’s total 12 rebounds. St. Bernard’s had 34 rebounds.

“We’ll always have our names up on that banner with the championship. I think that’s what we’ll remember at Bell-Jeff,” Smith said. “We earned that and we’ll move on.”

By Andrew J. Campa, andrew.campa@latimes.com

Senior Kiah Jones had left the team and senior Jasmine Smith started Wednesday’s game against Los Angeles Baptist on the bench suffering from an ankle injury she suffered Tuesday in practice.

Despite the missing personnel, the No. 5 Guards were able to notch a 70-60 victory at home in the Southern California Regional on the strength of a 26-point performance by Bell-Jeff senior Rishonda Napier.

Napier, along with Smith and fellow senior Averie Guzman, were members of the Bell-Jeff (24-8) team that won CIF Southern Section and state championships as freshmen in 2009. Napier said despite some recent distractions with the Guards, they are just trying to keep the season going.

“We have four seniors on this team and we are just trying to make a state run and we’re trying to get out of here with a championship,” said Napier, who had five three-pointers. “That’s how we want to end our season.”

Bell-Jeff Coach Jaclyn Johnson said the team didn’t want to dwell on the departure of its starter, and chose instead to turn the attention to beating the No. 12 Knights.

“We have to leave what happened in the past,” said Johnson, who is in her second season. “If we carry that into our future we’re not going to be able to move forward.

“But with Jasmine on the bench to start the game we had some players who stepped up, as they should have.”

Smith did enter the game in the second quarter and tallied 12 points to go along with five rebounds in limited minutes.

The Guards received a boost from the play of Guzman and junior Mariah Bankhead. While Guzman scored all of her 13 points in the first half, Bankhead grabbed nine rebounds and chipped in six points.

“With Jasmine out, the rest of us knew we had to step up,” Guzman said. “It was kind of like we had her back and we had to get it done.”

The win puts the Guards into the Southern California Regional quarterfinals Saturday. They will travel to No. 4 St. Bernard in a 7 p.m. game. St. Bernard (25-9) defeated No. 13 Lindsay of the Central Section, 103-39, in its opener Wednesday.

The Guards and Vikings played one another this season, with St. Bernard coming out on top, 71-58, on Feb 4.

“I think we match up well against Bernard,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be an exciting game. But I think our girls are going to go in there like we owe them a little bit.”

The Guards took advantage of poor shooting by the Knights to open the game. L.A. Baptist converted just one of its first 11 field goals and Bell-Jeff built a quick double-digit lead. The Guards also took advantage of 10 Knights turnovers to end the first stanza with a 21-9 advantage.

It was more of the same for the Knights in the early stages of the second quarter, as they missed their first seven shots. By that time, Bell-Jeff enjoyed a 28-9 lead with 5:38 remaining.

Guzman and Napier tallied six points each in the second quarter and the Guards went into the break with a 21-point cushion, 44-23.

All of the Knights’ 14 points in the second quarter came from senior Monet McNally. McNally ended the night with a game-high 33 points to go along with seven rebounds.

In the first half, the Knights converted just eight of 34 shots (23%) from the field.

Bell-Jeff kept up the pressure in the third quarter and headed into the fourth with a 28-point lead, 61-33.

When Guards junior Tiffany Kho drained a three-pointer in the opening moments of the fourth quarter, the Guards’ lead swelled to 31.

In the fourth, the Knights were able to whittle down the lead when Johnson emptied her bench.

“I put my young kids in late for a reason,” Johnson said. “I think if we’re going to go all the way everyone’s going to have to contribute. So they’re going to have to get used to it.”

BY JEFF TULLY, jeff.tully@latimes.com

BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON HIGH —

The Guards started strong, never let up and rolled to a 70-40 victory over Louisville in a CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA first-round matchup.

Bell-Jeff (21-7), the No. 6 seed, will move on to the second round of the playoffs. The Guards will take on No. 11 Pasadena Poly at 7 p.m. Saturday at a site to be determined. The Panthers (22-4) defeated El Segundo, 72-33, in an opening-round game Thursday.

“We had to come out and take this game very seriously,” said Guards Coach Jaclyn Johnson, who acknowledged that every playoff game is tough. “Louisville is a solid team, and we have to take this thing step by step. Win or go home.”

Johnson sited her team’s enthusiasm as a one of the biggest positives as they advance to face more formidable opponents. She particularly focused on the unselfish play from her athletes.

“Everybody enjoyed each other,” said Johnson. “When they weren’t in the game, they were cheering their teammates on.”

“It wasn’t about ‘me,’ it was about ‘we’, and that’s the mindset that is going to take us all the way.”

The Guards’ offensive attack was led by McDonald’s All-American candidate Rishonda Napier, who connected on seven three-pointers. The senior scored a game-high 25 points.

“It was a good night,” Napier said. “My shots were falling, my teammates were hitting their shots, the crowd was awesome and we just came out and played Bell-Jeff basketball.”

Johnson also took notice of her star player’s hot shooting.

“[Napier's] been scorching from the three-point line for the past couple weeks now,” Johnson said. “She’s peaking at the right time, so that’s really good.”

Superb ball movement was one of the keys to a strong offensive night for the Guards. The team combined for 20 assists. Still, that’s one area where Johnson feels her team could use some improvement.

“We need to execute a little bit better; make crisper passes,” Johnson said. “But overall I’m satisfied with it because our effort was there.”

Senior Jasmine Smith also had a fine all-around game for the Guards, scoring nine points and grabbing eight rebounds.

The only player on the Royals who could muster any kind of offense was junior Nicole Ashton, who had a solid scoring night with 20 points to lead her team.

BY JEFF MANN, Special to the Leader

SUN VALLEY —

The Crusaders came into Wednesday’s CIF Southern Section Division V-AA first round game not only as the No. 2 seed, but they had lost just two games all season and had won 22 of their last 23. In contrast, the Guards had to receive an at-large berth into the postseason and came in losers of five of their last seven games.

But in the first half, Bell-Jeff took advantage of Village Christian turnovers and gave the Crusaders all they could handle. However, the Guards couldn’t maintain the pace and the Crusaders were able to come on in the second half to earn a 61-38 victory at home.

The loss ended the season for the Guards (9-18), who placed fourth in the Santa Fe League.

The Crusaders (25-2), the Olympic League champions, had trouble with the Guards in the first half, maintaining just a 9-7 lead in a low-scoring first quarter. Bell-Jeff was still within striking distance after being outscored, 13-7, in the second quarter and going into halftime down by eight, 22-14.

“I was definitely happy with the way we came out tonight,” Bell-Jeff Coach Julian Andrade said. “I felt the level of competition that we played all year geared us up for this game. I was just hoping that we were going to be able to maintain that level of play for the entire game.”

The Guards could have made a big move in the second quarter, as their defense helped cause six turnovers. But Bell-Jeff struggled with its shooting during the stanza. Along with converting just two of its 10 shots from the field, it also made just three of nine free-throw attempts.

“Free-throw shooting just killed us,” said Andrade, whose squad was eight of 20 from the charity stripe on the night.

The Crusaders were aided in the second quarter by the play under the basket of senior Marquis Salmon, who tallied seven of his 11 redounds in the second. He led all scorers with 18 points.

Village Christian also received 15 points and nine rebounds from sophomore Bryan Alberts and junior Andrew English Jr. added 10 rebounds.

Village Christian Coach Jon Shaw wasn’t pleased with his team’s overall performance, which included 23 turnovers and a one-for-14 effort from three-point range.

“The Bell-Jeff coaches did a great job having them ready to play,” Shaw said. “But it’s tough for our guys to stay focused. We really have to identify that we have to come out with energy and enthusiasm in every game. We just sometimes have a lack of focus.”

In the second quarter, the Guards whittled the Crusaders’ lead to one when senior Elijah Reed drained a jumper with 3:26 left. But Village Christian went on an 8-1 run to finish the quarter.

The Crusaders’ defense began to buckle down in the second half, and the Guards just couldn’t keep up.

“I think their length kind of wore us down in that second half and we just had problems making our shots,” Andrade said.

Junior Connor Lunquist paced the Guards with eight points.

Jeff Tully