California D3 girls championship: Bishop O'Dowd downs Brea Olinda

Pregame
Division III girls
Brea Olinda (Brea) (26-4) vs.Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) (24-9)

Terrific trios: Brea Olinda — Reili Richardson, Shaylissa Jarrett, Sierra Bononi. O'Dowd — Asha Thomas, Myah Pace, Aisia Robertson.
State record: BO 9-2, BOD 2-1.
Key points: Brea Olinda is the winningest girls team in state history. … Brea Olinda lost to Vanden (80-68), which BOD beat in NorCal finals 72-55.

Final: Bishop O'Dowd 55, Brea Olinda 40

Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland senior Aisia Robertson chewed on a couple of Skittles at halftime, then pulled a Marshawn Lynch with 12 of her team-high 16 points in the third quarter.

The rest of Dragons followed her lead with a sweet third quarter en route to a hearty 55-40 state Division III championship victory over Brea Olinda-Brea at Cal’s Haas Pavilion on Friday afternoon.

The team’s other senior guard Asha Thomas, a childhood friend who will play at Cal, added 12 points and Myah Pace and Aerial Chavarin combined for 15 points and 29 rebounds as the Dragons (25-9) won their third state title in four years to help erase last year’s incomplete season.

O’Dowd played one too many regular-season games in 2013-14 and had to sit out the playoffs. That made Friday’s victory all the sweeter.

“I had a couple of pieces of candy, my teammates found me in open spots and I just fed off their energy,” said Robertson, a Kansas-signee who added eight rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Funny, because Thomas said the Dragons, who played a sluggish first half, were energized by Robertson, who scored on a variety of driving baskets and jumpers.

“I think being seniors, we both wanted to go out with a bang,” said Thomas, who also had five assists. Thomas, Robertson and Shoshana Merrimen are the team’s only seniors. All three and McCord embraced in the waning moments.

“It’s been a long journey. … and one great ride,” McCord said.

Tied at 22 at halftime, Brea Olinda (26-5), the winningest team in a state history with nine titles, took its second lead on a three-pointer by Relli Richardson (19 points). But Robertson completely took over, going on a 16-4 run, 12 scored by Robertson.

“She’s as good a guard as I’ve seen at this level,” Brea Olinda coach Jeff Sink said. “She’s probably the best guard we’ve seen all year. She can obviously play at the next level and probably the WNBA level as well.”

Sink, or his girls, weren't distraught in the least, after the game. With only three seniors, seven freshman and two sophomores, the Wildcats weren't supposed to be here.

"It's a big stage," Sink said. "We played as great as we could the first half. ... I'm as proud of this team as any I've had. I expected them to be here. Just not this year."

Bishop O'Dowd 55, Brea Olinda 40

BREA OLINDA (26-5)
Reili Richardson 5-18 7-8 19, Shaylissa Jarrett 3-9 0-0 6, Tyiona Watkins 3-15 1-2 7, Sierra Bonini 2-3 0-0 5, Krislyn Marsh 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 14-51 9-12 40.

BISHOP O'DOWD (25-9)
Asha Thomas 5-13 0-0 12, Mylah Andrada 2-9 3-5 8, Myah Pace 4-10 1-2 9, Aisia Robertson 6-18 3-7 16, Aerial Chavarin 3-15 0-0 6, Zakiya Mahoney 1-1 2-3 4. Totals 21-67 9-17 55.

Brea Olinda        10  12   9  9  — 40
Bishop O'Dowd   12 10  18 15 — 55

3-point goals: Richardson 2, Bononi, Thomas 2, Andrada, Robertson. Rebounds: Brea Olinda 37 (Watkins 13), O'Dowd (Pace 15, Chavarin 14). Turnovers: Brea Olinda 19, O'Dowd 13.