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    CIF State girls basketball preview: Sage Hill vs. Carondelet, Division I final
    • March 13, 2025

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    A preview of Friday’s CIF State Division I girls basketball championship game:

    CIF STATE DIVISION I FINAL

    At Golden 1 Center, Sacramento

    Sage Hill (23-11) vs. Carondelet (29-6), 6 p.m.

    Outlook: The Lightning peaked late in the season to reach their second state final in four years. After going 0-3 in the grueling CIF-SS Open Division playoffs, coach Kerwin Walters’ squad sprinted through the Division I regional with a 4-0 record as the No. 2 seed. Sage Hill beat Windward 52-41 in the regional final Tuesday.

    In the regional, point guard Amalia Holguin and wing Kamdyn Klamberg have led the Sage Hill offense by averaging 17 and 15 points, respectively. The Lightning are capable of scoring on the fast break or in their front-court sets, which incorporate elements of the triangle offense. Sage Hill has shown improvement on defense and rebounding. The Lightning held their four regional opponents to an average of 37 points. Freshman center Eve Fowler and Klamberg grabbed 17 and 15 rebounds, respectively in the SoCal final, including several on the offensive glass.

    Sage Hill’s surge also has coincided with the return of freshman guard Addison Uphoff and Fowler from injuries. The Lightning are young. They start two freshmen, a sophomore and two juniors.

    Carondelet, the No. 3 seed from CIF Northern California Regional, has reached its first state final since losing to Mater Dei in the Division II final in 2010. The Cougars are 1-3 in state finals, all of which have been in Division II. The team, coached by NorCal veteran Kelly Sopak, averaged 59 points in the regional after falling in the North Coast Open Division semifinals.

    Carondelet has its own freshman standout in Niylah Christopher, who scored a team-high 12 points in a 56-51 win against St. Mary’s in the regional final. Versatile forward Layla Dixon and point guard Sophia Ross are juniors to watch. Ross has been offered by Dartmouth.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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