GIRLS DIVISION IV STATE FINAL: HALF MOON BAY VS. WHITNEY-CERRITOS

Records: Half Moon Bay 23-7, Whitney 27-9

Tipoff: Saturday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 10 a.m.

Storylines: Both teams advanced as No. 2 seeds in their regionals and are making their first trip to a state championship game. … Half Moon Bay reached this point by winning four regional games after losing to Harker in the semifinals of the Central Coast Section Division IV playoffs. … Whitney advanced to Sacramento by doing the same thing, prevailing in four regional games after losing in the semifinals of its section playoffs. In Whitney’s case, it got some revenge along the way, beating Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary-Montebello in the regional final on Tuesday after losing the CSHM in the sectional playoffs. … Half Moon Bay needed a dramatic finish to edge Lowell-San Francisco in the NorCal Division IV final on Tuesday as Delaney Dorwin’s basket with nine seconds left broke a tie and lifted the coastal school to a 49-47 victory. … Zoey Lemoge, Xochitl Nieves and Dorwin have been HMB’s primary offensive threats, each scoring in double figures during the regional semifinals and final. … HMB’s defense was steady throughout regional play as the Cougars allowed 44.75 points per game in their victories over St. Patrick-St. Vincent, West Campus-Sacramento, Rio Linda and Lowell. … Whitney is averaging 55.75 points in its regional wins but called on its defense to help lead the way on Tuesday against CSHM, holding the SoCal runner-up scoreless for the first six minutes of the fourth quarter in a comeback victory. Whitney won 47-42 behind 22 points from sophomore guard Alyssa So. Haylie Wang added 16 points, 10 in the final quarter. – Darren Sabedra  

Related Articles