La Jolla Country Day’s Torreys win girls basketball title
D-IV crown is LJCD’s ninth title since 2003
La Jolla Country Day’s girls’ basketball team made a triumphant return to the top of the mountain. The Torreys beat city rival Bishop’s, 62-51, at USD’s Jenny Craig Pavilion on March 6 to capture the CIF San Diego Section Division IV championship, a year after failing to win the title for the first time this decade.Because the CIF San Diego Section, like other sections, is allotted two spots in the D-IV state playoffs, both teams advanced to that tournament.
Country Day (25-3) was seeded second in the state bracket, and was scheduled to open with a second-round home game against Serra of Gardena or Windward of Los Angeles. Bishop’s (25-7) was scheduled to host Valley Christian of Cerritos in a first-round game on March 9, after the Light’s press time.
Country Day had won the D-V championship in 2001 and ’02 and then captured the D-IV championship each year from ‘03-’08, but last year didn’t even make the championship game.
The Torreys were thrilled to get back a title they believe is rightfully theirs.
“From the first tip, (we) knew this was going to be a tough game,” Country Day coach Terri Bamford said.
Briteesaha Solomon led Country Day in scoring, with 17 points, and added five rebounds. Ariana Elegado scored 15 points for the Torreys, 10 of them in the fourth quarter. Maya Hood had nine points and 12 rebounds, and Kelsey Plum added 11 points.
Country Day was seeded first, and rolled past Santa Fe Christian, 85-25, in the quarterfinals on Feb. 26.
The Torreys got to the championship game with a 63-26 win over Horizon Christian on March 3.
Hood paced the Torreys in the semis, with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Bishop’s, seeded second, also had a first-round bye, and scorched Coronado, 72-16, in a Feb. 27 quarterfinal.
On March 3, the Knights beat Santa Ana Mater Dei, 65-45, setting up their title-game showdown with Country Day.
Gregory Ball covers sports for La Jolla Light. He can be reached at ballgregory@yahoo.com.