Cardinals dominate in first playoff game

PREP BASKETBALL

Woodland Christian girls trounce Stockton’s Hughes Academy in home victory

Woodland Christian Senior Keziah Maldonado-Lemus goes up for a lay-up during the team’s first playoff game on Feb. 18.

Woodland Christian Junior Ellie Sumner defends a player during Tuesday’s game. COURTESY PHOTOS — WOODLAND CHRISTIAN CARDINALS

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By Taylor Heeden

theeden@dailydemocrat.com

The Woodland Christian Varsity Girls basketball team took on the No. 15 seed, Aspire Langston Hughes Academy from Stockton, in their first game of the post-season playoffs. Ultimately, the Lady Cardinals came out victorious, taking home a win with a final score of 70-19.

The Cardinals were on fire from jump (shot), finishing the first quarter up 23-0. Woodland Christian pulled off a little in the second quarter, outscoring the opponent 19 points to their eight. The Cardinals then went on a 16-0 run in the third quarter and played a fairly even fourth quarter, cruising to a 70-19 final score.

As a team, the varsity girls shot 46% from the field and limited their opponent to 22% shooting. Hughes Academy had 31 turnovers to just nine of Woodland Christian’s, converting it into 27 more shot attempts than the Stockton school.

“Our defensive pressure has been our calling card, and we are moving the ball really well offensively, working for great shots,” Woodland Christian Varsity Girl’s Head Coach Shiloh Sorbello recapped.

Senior point guard Keziah Maldonado hit a couple of threes in the first quarter and finished with 14 points and eight assists. Sophomore wing Bailee Broward, who typically leads the Lady Cardinals in rebounding, had a career-high 17 points.

Teagan Hayes filled up the stat sheet with 15 points, seven steals and five rebounds. Sophomore post, Siena Sorbello, had 12 points and nine rebounds. Defensive specialist Ellie Sumner had a team-high 11 rebounds and five steals from the guard position. Fellow guard Elena Ganyo had 10 rebounds, five steals and nine points.

The Cardinals will host Destiny Christian Academy — formerly Capital Christian — in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Jack Hamlin Gym.

“They are the No. 7 seed and won their first-round game 52-32,” Sorbello said. “We played them earlier this season in our Cardinal Classic and won. However, they are a team with good size and a couple of streaky shooters, so we need to jump out to an early lead and make them take tough shots.”

If Woodland Christian defeats Destiny, the team will then move on to the section semifinals and qualify for the statewide tournament. The Cardinals will then be one win away from a section title game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.