Sports
Girls Basketball: Huffman, Carondelet Pound St. Francis in Second Half, Advance to NorCal Finals
All eyes on are on a fourth and final showdown between Carondelet and Berkeley for a chance to play in the state championship game.
Carondelet 77, St. Francis-Sacramento 66
The Star: Carondelet’s Hannah Huffman set a new career high with 34 points to go along with five assists and four steals.
The Turning Point: After leading 23-11 at the end of the first quarter Carondelet watched as St. Francis surged on a 21-9 run in the second to tie the game at 32. In the second half, the Cougars turned up the heat getting out in transition and raining in threes from deep. Carondelet totaled four 3-pointers and subsequently took control of the contest in the third quarter with a 52-45 lead.
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The Quote: "Hannah was huge for us in the fourth quarter, especially when Erica (Payne) went out with her fourth foul,” Carondelet’s coach Margaret Gartner said. “We went to Hannah everytime.”
What’s Next?: The Cougars are headed to Power Balance Arena in Sacramento (formerly Arco) for the Northern California Regional finals in a rematch of the NCS finals against Berkeley on Saturday at 6 p.m.
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Bottom Line: Huffman was just physically overwhelming in carrying the Cougars to victory over St. Francis. She displayed a polished offensive arsenal, which includes: tremendous court vision, three-point range, an uncanny pull-up jump shot, low-post moves and great driving and finishing ability.
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In a rugged CIF Northern California Regional semifinal playoff match, with blood spilled on both sides, Carondelet sped past St. Francis in the second half to advance within one game of the state championship.
In a close playoff game decided in the fourth, teams with a “closer” like Kobe Bryant, are successful more often than not.
The Cougars' closer is Hannah Huffamn and Saturday night at Mckeon Pavilion on the campus of Saint Mary’s College, she slammed the door shut on the Troubadours’ season as the Cougars scored 25 fourth-quarter points on their way to a 77-66 victory.
“I give all the credit in the world to St. Francis because they would not go away,” Huffman said. “But when Erica (Payne) went out of the game, coach turned to me and tapped her shoulders.”
Coach Margaret Gartner was telling Huffman to put the team on her shoulders. Huffman responded by pouring in 15 fourth-quarter points.
"I choked and I wasn't about to let that happen again,” Huffman said of the North Coast Section championship game. “It was the fourth quarter, time to take over. Big players step up in the fourth quarter."
Huffman finished with 34 points but was quick to remind the group of reporters outside the lockerroom that she also had four turnovers.
The Cougars also received a huge lift off the bench from Katherine Luther, who scored 11 points. Luther scored on consecutive possessions in the third quarter to bring her team from down three points to up two at 46-44.
“She had some big buckets,” said Gartner of Luther’s stellar third quarter play. “She has a nice shot and we were hoping she would come along so we could use her more in the playoffs.”
The Stanford-bound Payne struggled with foul trouble like St. Francis star guard Briana Charles, but still managed nine points a couple blocks.
Charles did much of her damage at the charity stripe, tallying 14 points aided by seven made free throws.
Carondelet struggled most trying to contain the Troubadour’s versatile power forward Ellie Earley. Earley tossed in three 3-pointers, to go with three difficult driving lay-ups for a team-leading 17 points.
It seemed even before the blood dried from the game, Carondelet’s attention quickly turned to their fourth meeting with Berkeley.
They among the East Bay powerhouses, but dropped the two, the most recent being in the NCS championship game.
“We have to somehow slow down (Brittany) Boyd. She is the key for Berkeley because they all score because of her,” Gartner said. “Much easier said than done.”
The tide just may be turning in Carondelet’s favor as Huffman, who is only a junior, is taking giant steps forward with each playoff game.
On Thursday against Armijo, she scored 29 points, setting her then career high, which was only to be broken two nights later.
What’s next for Huffman 35? 40?
Her coach would like to see a solid 32 minutes of defense and rebounding against Berkeley’s explosive offensive.
“We are excited to have a rematch against Berkeley and even better we have a week to rest up and prepare,” Gartner said.
Carondelet 77, St. Francis 66
1
2
3
4
F
St. Francis
11
21
13
21
66
Carondelet
23
9
20
25
77
Individuals — (fg ftm tp)
Carondelet
Romero 5-7 5, Russi 2 2-2 7, Velasco 2 2-2 7, Payne 3 3-4 9, Huffman 13 6-6 34, Cast 2 0-2 4, Luther 5 0-0 11. Totals 27 18-23 77.
St. Francis
Limcaco 5 0-0 12, Charles 3 7-12 14, Balbirz 4 2-2 10, Conarro 1 0-1 2, Earley 6 2-2 17, Lau 2 2-2 7. Totals 21 13-19 66.
3-point goals: St. Francis 7 (Earley 3, Limcaco 2, Lau, Charles); Carondelet 5 (Huffman 2, Russi, Valasco, Luther).
Records: St. Francis 26-7, Carondelet 28-4
NorCal Division I playoffs, March 12, 2011
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CIF Northern California Regional Semifinals
Boys
Division I
Castro Valley 63, Oakland 60 — Castro Valley Patch
De La Salle 47, Sheldon 45 — Concord Patch
Division II
Mitty-San Jose 70, Las Lomas 61 — Walnut Creek Patch
Woodcreek-Rosebille 58, Antelope 39
Division III
El Cerrito 63, Sacramento 51 — El Cerrito Patch
Bishop O'Dowd 52, San Marin 49
Division IV
Salesian 85, Santa Cruz 66
St. Mary's 65, St. Patrick-St. Vincent 44
Division V
St. Joseph 75, Vacaville Christian 71 (OT)
University-San Francisco 81, Pinewood-Los Altos Hills 75
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Girls
Division I
Berkeley 52, Lincoln-Stockton 42
Carondelet 77, St. Francis 66 — Concord Patch
Division II
St. Mary's-Stockton 56, Dougherty Valley 44 — San Ramon Patch
Del Oro-Loomis 63, Presentation-San Jose 59 (OT)
Division III
Bishop O'Dowd 48, St. Ignatius-San Francisco 39
Sacramento 58, Campolindo 54 — Lamorinda Patch
Division IV
St. Mary's 60, Notre Dame-Belmont 39
Modesto Christian 71, Piedmont 61 — Piedmont Patch
Division V
Pinewood-Los Altos Hills 66, Bradshaw Christian-Sacramento 37
St. Joseph Notre Dame 46, Eastside College Prep 38
