SACRAMENTO – On March 10, 2020,
Branson (Ross) beat West Valley in the NorCal Division IV Regional final and was headed to the state finals. Then COVID happened.
Two years and two days later, the Bulls finally got their shot at a title Saturday and made the most of it as Branson held
Imperial scoreless for more than 12 minutes over the second and third quarters and
Hannah Golan dropped 21 points in a 46-23 CIF Division IV championship victory.
Golan, the best player on the floor for the opening of six days to cap the CIF finals. She scored six of the Bulls' first eight points and added 15 rebounds, five steals and two blocks to her title-winning resume.
"I remember crying when they canceled the state game," the junior Golan said about the ending of her freshman season. "The goal became getting back to state. I wanted it so bad."
Branson players celebrate their CIF Division IV title after beating Imperial 46-23 on Saturday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
Photo by David Steutel
And teamed with
Jaliyah Wiggins, a senior guard who glossed themselves 10.5 (the average of their jersey numbers), Golan and the Bulls stepped on the defensive gas in the second quarter.
"I felt robbed and glad to get back to this point," Wiggins said.
Branson employed a 2-2-1 full-court press and switched to a 2-3 and 1-3-1 zone that forced Imperial into numerous turnovers and long rebounds that the Bulls turned into fast break opportunities.
"We hoped to throw that haymaker," said Trey Mitchell, who took over head coaching duties this season. "The zone is a different look and we knew that wrinkle would get them uncomfortable.
That haymaker landed as the Tigers, who scored to end the first quarter, went without a point in the second period and into the third before
Xiomara Cardona's bucket in the paint stopped the Bulls' 24-point run.
Hannah Golan led Branson with 21 points and 15 rebounds in the 23-point victory.
Photo by David Steutel
Over the course of the run, Branson got 12 points from Golan, four from Wiggins as well as an end-of-the-half 3-pointer from
Lumina Tagliaferri.
By the time Cardona ended the Bulls' run with 3:37 left in the third, Branson was up 32-10.
"Their size, length and speed was too much for us," Imperial coach Richard Ponchione said. "They made it real difficult for us."
But the Tigers coach added that for his team's first appearance in the state finals, just traveling to Sacramento - a first for many of the team's players - was a victory.
"This is what we worked for ... they earned this trophy," he said of the runner-up prize.
Sierra Morris had 11 points in a losing effort for Imperial.
Photo by David Steutel
– 8, 0, 6, 9 – 23
Branson – 8, 14, 18, 6 – 46
Tigers – Jarvis 1, N. Cardona 1, Carillo 2, X. Cardona 2, Riley 4, Morris 15
Bulls – Myerberg 2, Arauz-Moore 2, Tagliaferri 3, Slayen 4, Rogers 4, Wiggins 10, Golan 21
3-pointers – I: None; B: 2 (Tagliaferri, Golan)
Jaliyah Wiggins scored 10 for Branson in its CIF girls Division IV title win.
Photo by David Steutel
