It’s rare that a basketball game is won in the first quarter, but that happened Thursday night in the CIF-SS Division 3 girls’ game between Shadow Hills and Ramona.
The Knights were hosting a Ramona team that beat them by a basket earlier in the season, but you wouldn’t have known it at the start of this one. The Knights and their pressure defense blitzed Ramona to the tune of a stunning 26-2 lead after one quarter.
The rest of the game was played quite evenly, but that first quarter decided it as the Knights went on to win 60-41.
It was a balanced scoring attack for the Desert Empire League champions as Juliana Reyes led the way with 17 points, while Analiah Cardona added 13, Alexa Chicas 11 and Vanessa Monaco 10.
With the victory, the Knights advance to Saturday’s second round where they will be at home again and host Leuzinger High from Lawndale.
It was a busy night of high school playoff games with the spotlight on girls’ basketball and girls’ soccer.
More girls’ basketball
THURSDAY’S SCORES
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
(All games at 7 p.m. unless teams agree to change)
Girls’ soccer
Shadow Hills 1, California 0: The Knights got a goal from Miranda Rodriguez early in the game and it stood up as the defense held strong and goalkeeper Samantha Cruz stopped all seven shots she saw.
The Desert Empire League champion Knights will hit the road for a Division 4 second-round game Saturday at 5 p.m. at Arcadia.
Desert Christian Academy 1, Bellflower 0: The Desert Christian Academy girls’ soccer team had never made the playoffs before, but apparently the wanted to stick around.
The Conquerors won their first-ever playoff game as a goal from April Chaparro held up for a Division 7 victory over visiting Bellflower. DCA will now hit the road for a Saturday second-round game against Cate High in Carpinteria.
Desert Hot Springs 2, Westminster 1: The Golden Eagles were the only desert team to pick up a road playoff win Thursday as Azul Valencia scored both of the team’s goals including the tiebreaker in the second half.
The Golden Eagles will host a Division 6 second-round game at 5 p.m. on Saturday against Ocean View of Huntington Beach.
THURSDAY’S SCORES
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: See which girls’ basketball and soccer teams are still alive in CIF-SS
Reporting by Shad Powers, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
