Cardinals stumble in Division 4A semifinal round again
MONTEBELLO >> The semifinal round is still a major stumbling block for the girls basketball team from Cantwell-Sacred Heart High.
For the second year in a row, the Cardinals were tripped up in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 4A playoffs, losing 55-31 at home Saturday night to top-seeded Brentwood. CSHM (18-12) will now hope to receive an at-large berth next week into the Division 4 state tournament.
“We just had too many missed opportunities,” said Cantwell coach Omar Villalta, who saw his team miss several layups and 4 of 8 free throws in the first half. “We just didn’t feel as comfortable as we have the last couple games.”
Villalta said he’d petition for an at-large berth to the Southern California Division 4 field. Last year, the Cardinals made the SoCal regionals and won their first-round game.
“The team deserves it,” said Villalta, “to at least get a shot.”
The Cardinals trailed by only six at halftime, but Brentwood (24-7) fed the ball to 6-foot senior post Kennedy Martin early in the third and put the game away with a 9-0 run. Martin scored seven of those points, including a bucket off an offensive rebound, and senior point guard Drew Cabral added another basket after a midcourt steal. The Eagles extended their lead from 26-20 to 35-20 in just over 3 minutes and effectively salted away the victory.
“At halftime we made some adjustments,” said Brentwood coach Charles Solomon, “and made sure to pound the ball down low.”
Freshman Lily Perkins led the Cardinals with 11 points, Justine Manjarrez scored eight and Vanessa Espinosa had five. But no other Cantwell player had more than three.
Martin scored 21 to lead the Eagles, including a 7-for-10 effort in the second half from the foul line. Drew Cabral added 11 points, as did Maylene Cabral.
Brentwood advanced to its second divisional final in the past three years. In 2012, the Eagles were beaten 66-29 in the Division 4A final by Campbell Hall.
“We’re excited to get a chance to get back (to the final),” said Solomon, “and redeem ourselves from two years ago.”
Cantwell hasn’t reached a divisional final since 2002.
The Cardinals trailed by as many as 11 points in the second quarter after back-to-back 3-pointers by Brentwood’s A.J. Simmons and Sammy Schlessel. CSHM, however, closed the quarter on a 7-0 run, keyed by an Espinosa 3-point shot that bounced high off the rim before falling through the hoop.
