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Sage Hill’s Amalia Holguin fulfills ‘dream’ with run to CIF State girls basketball final

March 13, 2025

In March of 2022, Amalia Holguin watched “as a fan” and dreamed of her chance as the Sage Hill girls basketball team reached the CIF State championships.

Holguin was in the eighth grade that spring as four of her teammates from Kobe Bryant’s famed Mambas youth team helped the Lightning capture the Division II state title. The victory capped an emotional season as the team honored Bryant and others killed in the 2020 helicopter crash.

On Friday night, Holguin finally gets her opportunity to play for a state crown as Sage Hill (23-11) faces Carondelet of Concord (29-6) in the Division I final at Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center, home of the Sacramento Kings.

“I’ve been dreaming and visualizing this since the eighth grade, so I’m just super proud of myself and our team,” the junior point guard said after the Lightning’s 52-41 triumph against Windward in the regional final Tuesday.

“I’ve been working on my bag all season. This has been my dream since I came to Sage, to get to the highest point and this is the furthest you can go.”

As the last member of the so-called “Mamba 5” in high school, Holguin has emerged this season as more of a team leader.

She was the upstart freshman and sophomore the past two seasons as she played with former Mamba teammates Zoie Lamkin, Kat Righeimer, Annabelle Spotts and Emily Eadie.

All four of those players graduated in 2024 and headed to the collegiate ranks.

In the regional final, Holguin scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Her leadership was just as visible. She encouraged teammates, addressed the home crowd afterward on a microphone and doused coach Kerwin Walters with water as part of the team’s celebration.

Sage Hill guard Amalia Holguin, left, celebrates as she waits with other team members to be awarded the CIF Southern California Division 1 Regional girls basketball championship plaque in Newport Beach on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

“I’ve had former teammates who were older than me who were super-great leaders,” Holguin said. “Kat, Emily, Annabelle and Zoie, they taught me multiple things on the way up.”

Holguin’s expanded role as a team leader arrived as she balances college recruiting. The 5-foot-9 junior, who was All-County last season, has expressed interested in Louisville and Illinois among others.

Holguin entered the postseason averaging 14.7 points and 4.3 assists.

“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs (this season),” she said, “but I think I kept a consistent base through the season.”

Walters has noticed Holguin’s growth as a leader.

“There have been some growing pains but she has slowly just moved that needle … (and) slowly gotten everyone to buy into her,” the veteran coach said. “When it works and when it clicks, you see it, and it’s crazy good. … I’m so proud of the growth she’s had over this last year and become the leader on this team.”

On Friday night, Holguin’s longest season at Sage Hill ends with a chance to join her role models as a state champion.

“I don’t know how I’ve gotten so old, honestly,” Holguin said with a smile. “I don’t know where the time went but I’m just so blessed. … This is my home.”

CIF State girls basketball preview: Sage Hill vs. Carondelet, Division I final

Sage Hill’s Amalia Holguin fulfills ‘dream’ with run to CIF State girls basketball final Orange County Register

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Sage Hill’s Amalia Holguin fulfills ‘dream’ with run to CIF State girls basketball final

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