“The size of the school’s got nothing to do with it,” Buggs said minutes following Saturday’s narrow 62-57 victory over the Guards in the final game of the night at the Ayala Extravaganza in Chino Hills.

Poly, one of the largest public schools in the state and the four-time defending CIF State Division I champion, had to rally from a fourth-quarter deficit to finally knock off Bell-Jeff, the defending State Division V champion with an enrollment around 400.

“They’ve got some solid players and are a very well-coached team,” Buggs added. “They shoot the ball, they handle the ball and they’re disciplined.”

The Guards (17-5) held a two-point lead (37-35) at halftime and a three-point advantage (51-48) after three quarters, thanks mostly to some accurate shooting. Bell-Jeff sank five 3-point shots through three quarters, including three from freshman Leslie Lopez-Wood.

“They weren’t missing in the first half,” said Buggs.

But the Jackrabbits (16-2) turned up the defensive pressure in the fourth and held the Guards to just one field goal. Sheila Boykin had five of her game-high 11 rebounds in the fourth and added three steals. Ariya Crook-Williams scored nine points in the fourth - she had 18 for the game - and was 5-for-6 from the foul line. Destiny King added two crucial offensive rebounds in the fourth, including one following a missed free throw as Poly nursed a late three-point lead.

“That was huge,” Buggs said.

Poly regained the lead, 56-55, on a bucket from Crook-Williams with 3:51 remaining. The Guards’ Rishonda Napier tied the game with a free throw before King and Crook-Williams scored consecutive baskets, the second on a nice assist from Brittany Wilson.

Bell-Jeff, ranked No. 1 in the latest CIF-SS Division IV-A poll, finally began to wilt under Poly’s constant pressure and superior size in the fourth. Beside their poor shooting from the field, the Guards were just 4-for-11 from the foul line in the fourth.

“I think it was more mental fatigue than physical fatigue (in the fourth),” Bell-Jeff coach Bryan Camacho said. “We broke down a couple times on our (defensive) rotations and Poly was able to get couple (baskets).”

Wilson added 16 points for Poly, Tajanae Winston scored nine and King had seven points and five rebounds. Jasmine Smith led the Guards with 14 points and eight rebounds. Napier and Margeaux Gupilan each scored 11.