MC’s Lovette leads team to another title

GIRLS BASKETBALL

After falling behind Branson early, Wildcats roll to second consecutive MCAL crown

Quinn McCarty (12), Madie Dayton (25), Alyssa Spagnuolo (5), and Cecily Hadd (13) of Marin Catholic celebrate defeating Branson in the MCAL girls basketball championship at Terra Linda High School in San Rafael. on Saturday.

Cecily Hadd (13) of Marin Catholic fights for a loose ball with Hannah Golan (10) of Branson during the MCAL girls basketball championship at Terra Linda High School in San Rafael, on Saturday.

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By Holly Woolard

IJ correspondent

Gracyn Lovette is certainly leaving her mark on Marin Catholic High girls basketball and the MCAL.

All the 5-foot-11 senior has done is lead the Wildcats to 44 consecutive MCAL regular-season and playoff victories, including a second consecutive league playoff championship on Saturday night.

Her latest exploits came in the form of 19 points, 15 rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots to propel the Wildcats to a 48-27 triumph against Branson at Terra Linda High.

“Gracyn has been a leader for us for four years,” said Marin Catholic coach Ashley Saia. “We’re lucky to have her.”

Headed to Lehigh University on a scholarship, Lovette was named MCAL Player of the Year last season as a junior and is a favorite to repeat that honor this season.

After Saturday night’s performance, you get the feeling that Lovette and her Marin Catholic teammates have lots more left in the tank. The Wildcats (23-5) won their first North Coast Section title in 21 years last season and will find out their first-round sectional opponent when the brackets are announced Sunday.

“It feels amazing,” said Lovette. “It’s so special getting to play with my best friends.”

Third-seeded Branson (16-11) had won four in a row, including an upset over second-seeded San Marin. But the loss to Marin Catholic was particularly disappointing for the Bulls, who had hoped to add an MCAL title to their collection. Like the Wildcats, the Bulls won their NCS division last season and even claimed the state title but the MCAL crown eluded them once again.

“We wanted it for our girls so badly,” said Branson coach Nnenna Okereke. “This is the one thing they don’t have. NCS, state champions — MCAL was the last thing.”

After the first half ended tied up at 16-16, the Bulls had every right to believe Saturday night would be their night. They had limited Lovette to just one field goal and three free throws for five points through two quarters.

But the defending champs had experience and confidence on their side. Trailing 21-20 late in the third quarter, the Wildcats got three straight three-pointers from Jocelyn Gigounas, Angelique Addae and Lovette to surge ahead 29-21 with 49 seconds left in the period.

Lovette added a pair of free throws with 20 seconds remaining and closed the quarter with a steal and basket for a 33-21 cushion that basically shut the door on the Bulls.

The Wildcats’ string of pivotal three-pointers had to soothe the pain of missing 15 shots from long range in the first half. Branson actually built a 16-5 lead to start the second quarter but failed to score the rest of the way. The Bulls only managed 11 second-half points.

Marin Catholic’s Cecily Hadd chipped in seven points and six rebounds. Gigounas had seven and Izzy McFadden had six. Alyssa Spagnuolo had seven rebounds and Sienna Frazier added depth down low.

The Bulls’ Avery Myerberg was the only other player in double figures with 11 points. Jaclyn Rogers and Rosie Slayen had seven and six, respectively. Branson standout Hannah Golan was held to two points but came up with 15 rebounds.