Live! CIF Northern California basketball finals

Division II girls
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 57, McNair (Stockton, Calif.) 54

Jahnay Anderson set a Division II NorCal title game record with five 3-pointers – on five attempts – but it was UCLA-bound Kelli Hayeswho made all the plays down the stretch in a terrific back-and-forth contest at Sleep Train Arena. Both scored game highs of 17 points.

Mitty (21-11) finished on a 10-2 run, eight scored by Hayes, who assisted on a Regina Chii fastbreak hoop to take the lead for good 53-52 with 2:31 remaining. The 6-foot-1 senior then went left for a determined left-hand layup to make it 55-52 and after Brittany Butler (14 points) hit a circus shot, Hayes swished two free throws with 8.8 seconds left.

Mandy Coleman, a 6-3 post headed to Oklahoma State, missed a last-second 3-pointer under heavy duress and Mitty, the top seed, won its 10th Northern California in 18 tries. Hayes made all nine of her free throw attempts and added nine rebounds, four assists and took three charges, which thrilled coach Sue Phillips.

Hayes passed WNBA's Danielle Robinson into third place in Mitty's career scoring list.

"Kelly basically took over the game," Mitty coach Sue Phillips said. "But I loved our team defense on that last attempt. It was a total team win."

McNair (28-5), which got 13 points from Tiara Tucker, 12 by Bykema Mobley and 10 points and 18 rebounds from Coleman seemed to take control with a 12-3 run starting late in the third quarter to go up 52-47 midway through the fourth. Hayes had picked up her fourth early in the fourth.

Phillips put her back in and the fourth-year starter responded with back-to-back driving layups, before sending a sweet left-handed bounce pass to Chi to put Mitty back in front.

Like Mitty this season, Hayes started slow, going scoreless for the first 14 minutes, but she finished fast. Mitty now moves on to play Chaminade (West Hills), a 67-50 winner over West Torrance.

"We've proved so many people wrong at this point and now we just want to continue to do so next week," Hayes said.

With Hayes starting cold, Anderson's 3-point shooting was key. It was especially impressive in the NBA arena where most high school players struggle.

"I didn't think I was going to shoot that well here," said Anderson, a 5-4 sophomore. "I knew I had to hit those shots. That was nice."

Asked if he was surprised by Anderson's shooting, McNair coach Anthony Mathews said.

"She wasn't overlooked," he said. "I think we spent so much time paying attention to (Hayes) we lost track of other girls."

Phillips didn't overlook the defense of her 6-foot junior Taylor Todd on Coleman, who made just 3 of 14 shots. Todd also scored 10 points and hit a key 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.

With only two seniors on the team, Mitty was inconsistent much of the year. But they've peaked just at the right time, said Phillips.

"There were times at practice we looked brilliance this year," Phillips said. "But when the bright lights shined we sometimes lost our mind. But I never lost faith in this group. … The wheels got a little wobbly at times today, but the longer we stayed in the game, the more confident I was our conditioning and mental toughness would prevail. I'm very proud of this group."

As was Mathews of his team. The Eagles had moments of brilliance throughout, but down the stretch they seemed to run out of gas.

"It was frustrating at times out there, but we had a great season," he said. "I think we'll go down as the most dominant public school ever in our area."



Next page: D3-5 boys and girls action at American Canyon High School