Championship celebrations have been a constant in senior Izzy McFadden’s high school basketball career with Marin Catholic so far. McFadden and the Wildcats are in position now to keep their streak alive with a shot at a fourth consecutive girls basketball league pennant.

“I’m excited,” McFadden said. “We’ve been in this position for the last three years, and won the championship every year I’ve been here, so I’m excited. … There’s pressure in every kind of championship game, but it’s not something I’m worried about, and it’s not something the team is worried about.”

The banners hanging in Freitas Memorial Gymnasium are a reminder of just how dominant the Marin Catholic girls basketball program has been in recent years. The Wildcats were 39-0 in league play from 2021-2024, a three-year span during which they won the MCAL title and North Coast Section Division III championship each season.

McFadden scored a game-high 15 points Wednesday evening as No. 2 seed Marin Catholic worked up a head of steam en route to a 50-39 victory over No. 3 San Marin in the MCAL semifinals.

“We’ve fought through a lot this season, and we’ve definitely learned a lot of lessons on the way,” McFadden said. “I’m proud of the way we’ve come together as a team.”

Marin Catholic (17-10) will put its title streak on the line against top-seeded Redwood, a 50-19 winner against No. 4 Branson in Wednesday’s other semifinal. The Wildcats lost twice to the Giants this season, but both games were decided by less than 10 points.

“We’ve played Redwood twice already this season, so this is another game,” Marin Catholic first-year head coach Kayden Korst said. “We’re just excited to be in this position.”

An energized San Marin squad (21-7) jumped out to an early lead, but McFadden closed the first quarter with a 3-pointer, then hit another big shot to open the second quarter and tie the game 14-14. She finished with a trio of 3-pointers.

“Izzy McFadden makes the big shots when she has to. That’s what she does,” San Marin head coach Tony Butler said.

Seconds later, a short jumper from senior Sienna Frazier gave the Wildcats their first lead of the game, which they never surrendered as they went on a 9-0 run to start the second quarter.

Brooke Spagnuolo scored 13 points to go with eight rebounds, while Jocelyn Gigounas posted 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Wildcats.

“We had some lapses, and in big games you can’t afford those lapses,” Butler said.

The Mustangs, with Brianna Nottingham’s shot from deep beyond the arc, and a three-point play from Delaney Butler to close out the first half, narrowed the gap to just five points, 25-20, at halftime.

San Marin managed to keep the game within reach during most of the second half, but every time the Mustangs threatened to go on a run, the Wildcats countered with a stifling defense and laser-focused scoring.

Butler and Nottingham each finished with 11 points, with Nottingham hitting three of the Mustangs’ six 3-pointers. Butler hit two long-range shots. Quincy Dean added 10 points for San Marin.

“This has been a great season,” Butler said as the Mustangs refocus for the NCS playoffs. “We’ve exceeded expectations and met the high standards we set for ourselves.”