Strong start propels Sage Hill girls basketball to lopsided win over Rolling Hills Prep in 2AA quarterfinals – Daily Breeze

NEWPORT BEACH >> The Sage Hill girls basketball team entered its game Saturday night looking to avenge a two-point loss to Rolling HIlls Prep in December.

This time around, the Lightning arrived healthy and got its revenge with a 55-34 victory in the CIF-SS Division 2AA quarterfinals at Sage Hill.

Sage Hill (21-9) will go on the road to face Santa Monica on Wednesday, Feb. 23, in the semifinals.

“We started out strong,” Sage Hill sophomore Kat Righeimer said of Saturday’s game. “We didn’t start out strong last time we played them and it resulted in the loss, but we started out strong this time around. We were rebounding and getting all the boards. We hustled on all our plays.”

Emily Eadie led the Lightning with 17 points and eight rebounds while Righeimer added 12 points, seven rebounds and five blocks.

Postgame interview with Emily Eadie of Sage Hill. 17 points and 8 rebounds as Sage Hill heads back to the semifinals. @ocvarsity @Sage_Athletics @sagehillgbb @sagehillschool pic.twitter.com/xOgqeoIxKY

— Manny Alvarez (@MAlvarez02) February 20, 2022

Sage Hill went on the offensive attack early with 3-pointers in the opening quarter from Eadie and Righeimer as well as senior Isabel Gomez, but after getting eight points in the first quarter, Gomez was shut down.

Thankfully for the Lightning, Gomez distributed the ball and found her teammates.

Gomez scored 12 points on the night while having a game high six assists.

Postgame interview with Kat Righeimer of Sage Hill. 12 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks for Righeimer as the Lady Lightning head to the semifinals. @ocvarsity @sagehillgbb @Sage_Athletics @sagehillschool pic.twitter.com/1WDJaV05dW

— Manny Alvarez (@MAlvarez02) February 20, 2022

“Isabel is the constant team player,” Sage Hill coach Kerwin Walters said. “She does what we need her to do and she will score. Right now, she can affect the game this way and create havoc for everyone else on the other team. We have some good scorers on the wings and on the post, but without her sacrificing her game, some of the stuff doesn’t happen. She is that gifted of a kid.”

Postgame interview with Sage Hill coach Kerwin Walters as his team heads to the semifinals. @ocvarsity @Sage_Athletics @sagehillgbb @sagehillschool pic.twitter.com/6oEVToLrmO

— Manny Alvarez (@MAlvarez02) February 20, 2022

Saturday was only the second time this season the Huskies (15-7) were kept under 40 points.

Nicole Fernandez was the only Husky with double-digit points. She had 10 points with seven rebounds while Tatum Tamashiro added eight points and seven rebounds. Zariah Jackson scored seven points to go with her eight rebounds.

“My girls had an excellent season,” said Rolling Hills prep coach Monique Alexander, who took over as head coach three days before the season started. “They fought and sometimes things just don’t go their way. I tell my girls all the time, it’s not the situation, it’s how you respond. Unfortunately, it wasn’t our night, but I’m super proud of them.”

Annabelle Spotts scored seven points and Zoie Lamkin added six points for Sage Hill, which qualified for the CIF SoCal Regional with the victory, but first it will try to get into CIF-SS finals. Sage Hill won its first ever CIF-SS title last season.

“We have to bring out our energy,” Eadie said. “We have to focus from the start.”