St. Bernard Girls Hoops Wins Regional Opener

It wasn't just a win, it was a statement.

The St. Bernard High School girls basketball squad opened the CIF Southern California Regional Division IV playoffs with a resounding 103-39 victory over Lindsay on Wednesday night and served notice that it won't go quietly in the 15-team field.  

Despite a loss to L.A. Windward in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 4AA playoffs, St. Bernard is still in contention to reach its second straight state final. The Vikings suffered a 67-56 defeat to Los Altos Hills Pinewood in the Division V championship game last year.

Bo Corona's squad dominated the Central Section runner-up from the opening tip Wednesday as five players scored in double figures, led by Chenelle Pelle's 27 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Lajahna Drummer added 22 points and 13 rebounds, Cydney Bolton had 16 points, Michelle Curry had 12 points and 12 rebounds and Chyanne Butler added 10 points and five assists for fourth-seeded St. Bernard  (27-8), which led 58-30 at halftime. 

It is rare to reach the 100-point plateau in the state playoffs, but the Vikings were able to do so with stifling defense and numerous transition baskets. They held the visiting Cardinals (21-10) to just two points in the third quarter and nine in the entire second half.

St. Bernard will host Burbank Bellarmine-Jefferson, the other Southern 4AA semifinalist, in the regional quarterfinals Saturday. The fifth-seeded Guards (24-8) prevailed 70-60 in their first-round game against Los Angeles Baptist.

Meanwhile, the St. Bernard boys team is the top seed in Division V and has a first-round bye. The Vikings, who defeated Ribet Academy 81-67 Saturday in Santa Ana to win the CIF-SS Division 5AA crown, carry are riding a 17-game winning streak.

St. Bernard (23-7) hosts eighth-seeded Fresno Christian (25-2), the Central Section champion, in the quarterfinals Saturday. The Eagles downed Southern Section 5A champion Encino Holy Martyrs 70-58 in the first round Wednesday.

St. Bernard has not tasted defeat since a 71-61 loss to Lakewood Mayfair in the Torrey Pines Tournament on Dec. 29. The Vikings are trying to reach the state finals for the second consecutive season, having lost by three points to Alameda St. Joseph Notre Dame in the Division V championship game last winter.

Since both St. Bernard teams are at home Saturday, the girls will play first at 6 p.m., followed by the boys at 7:30 p.m. in the Vikings' gymnasium.

Here are the boys' CIF SoCal Regional Division V quarterfinal matchups: 

No. 8 Fresno Christian (Central V champion) at No. 1 St. Bernard (Southern 5AA champion)

No. 5 Village Christian (Southern 5AA semifinalist) at No. 4 Mission Prep (Southern 5AA semifinalist)

San Diego Rock Academy (San Diego V runner-up) at No. 3 Renaissance Academy (Southern 6 champion)

California Lutheran (Southern 6 runner-up) at No. 2 Ribet Academy (Southern 5AA runner-up)

Here are the girls' CIF SoCal Regional Division IV quarterfinal matchups:

Campbell Hall (Southern 4A champion) at No. 1 La Jolla Country Day (San Diego IV champion)

No. 5 Bell-Jeff (Southern 4AA semifinalist) at No. 4 St. Bernard (Southern 4AA semifinalist)

No. 6 La Jolla Bishop's (San Diego IV runner-up) at No. 3 Los Angeles Windward (Southern 4AA runner-up)

Brentwood (Southern 4A runner-up) at No. 2 Gardena Serra (Southern 4AA champion)