Windward Hoops Reaches CIF Finals

Since the season began, Windward School's girls basketball players have had targets on their backs, but that has not bothered these Wildcats one iota. They have stayed focused on their ultimate goals and the second one of those is now one victory away.

In a matchup of Southern California regional champions, top-seeded Windward knocked off fourth-seeded St. Bernard of Playa del Rey, 59-52, Saturday night in the CIF Southern Section Division 4AA semifinals, earning its place in Wednesday's final against seventh-seeded Gardena Serra at the Anaheim Convention Center (tip-off scheduled for 8:15 p.m.).

Sophomore guard Jordin Canada led the charge against last year's CIF-SS Division 5AA finalist St. Bernard (25-8), which went on to reach the state finals before moving up to Division 4 this season. Canada had 19 points and three steals, center Imani Stafford had 10 points and 21 rebounds and guard Courtney Jaco and forwards Paris Baird and Kristen Simon each contributed eight points for the Wildcats (27-3), who built a 31-19 halftime lead.

On Wednesday, Windward used a 21-9 first-quarter run to take command on the way to a 66-49 quarterfinal triumph over JSerra of San Juan Capistrano. Macchiati Smith had 13 points and four steals, Baird had 12 points and Simon added 11.

Windward went 29-4 last season, defeating Bishop Montgomery in the 4AA finals and going on to beat Albany St. Mary's for the state title in Sacramento.

The Wildcats achieved their first goal this season by capturing the Alpha League title. Their third goal would be to win a second consecutive state crown, but first they must knock off a Serra squad that averages almost 68 points per game. The Cavaliers (26-3) have won nine games in a row and tied St. Bernard for the Del Rey League title.  

BOYS BASKETBALL

Coach Miguel Villegas' squad was hoping to join the girls in Anaheim but lost Tuesday's Division 4AA quarterfinal clash to Los Angeles Price, 76-62. The fifth-seeded Wildcats were hoping to avenge two previous losses to the fourth-seeded Knights (22-8), in the Santa Monica Tournament and Fairfax State Preview Classic. 

Top scorer Nicholas Stover got into early foul trouble and the Wildcats found themselves trailing 37-32 at halftime. Jordan Wilson scored 14 points, Stover had 13 and Luke Silverman-Lloyd and Charles Dawson each added 10.

Windward fell short of a section title last year but rebounded to win the state championship for the second time in three years. 

GIRLS SOCCER

After shutting out Ontario Colony 3-0 in its CIF-SS Division 4 playoff opener, the Wildcats fell to second-seeded Marymount 2-1 in the second round at Mar Vista Park last Wednesday. Windward finished the season 10-4-2. 

BOYS SOCCER

After opening the Division 6 playoffs with victories over Viewpoint and Chadwick, the Wildcats were eliminated by Citrus Hill of Perris, 4-0, in the quarterfinals last Thursday, ending their season with a 13-4-2 record.