California high school girls basketball: Central outlasts Bonita Vista 52-41 in CIF Division II girls final behind 24 points from Talia Maxwell

SACRAMENTO — The Central (Fresno) girls basketball team took a 2-0 lead before tip-off, led the whole night, but had to grind it out at the end for a 52-41 win in the CIF Division II finals over Bonita Vista (Chula Vista) on Saturday at Golden 1 Center.

An administrative technical — a wrong jersey number in the scorebook — put Talia Maxwell at the line where she gave the Grizzlies the edge before play had even started.

Once on-court action commenced, the senior Maxwell showed everyone not in and around the Central Valley what they'd been missing. She nearly outscored Bonita Vista by herself in the opening 16 minutes, dropping 17 as the Grizzlies led 29-18, before finishing with 24 points, 24 rebounds and six blocks. The rebound total is a Division II record and one off the all-time state mark.

But for as good as the Maxwell-led Grizzlies were, the game got tight down the stretch despite Bonita Vista shooting 15 of 81 on the night.

"It's an ugly win, but we'll take it," Central coach Paul Kariuki said. "It got tight, but it's supposed to be hard otherwise it's not worth having."

The 23-12 Grizzlies seemed in control of the game most of the night, but the Bonita Vista press started giving Central issues getting a good shot before the shot clock dipped into single-digits.

A rough third period for both teams — 10 points total from both teams — had Central up 36-23. Bonita Vista's pressure helped the 23-10 Barons claw back, trailing 48-41 with just over two minutes to play.

"It was a tough game and they did a good job controlling the game," Bonita Vista coach Tristan Lamb said. "The way we played at the end is how we should've started. It was just too late."

And while the Barons made things tight, it was, fittingly, Maxwell who put an exclamation on the victory.

Up nine with the clock under a minute, she got the ball at the top of the key, drove the lane and Eurostepped a shot into the basket at the shot clock expired.

"I think she's the best player in the (Central) Valley," Kariuki said. "That might be a controversial statement ... but she rolls out of bed and gets 25."

Maxwell had posted a 17 and 14 double-double by intermission, showcasing her skills for much of the half.

As tall as post with the build of a forward and quickness of a guard, Maxwell closed the first quarter on a personal 7-0 run before tacking eight more in the second period. On more than one occasion, she'd grab a defensive rebound, race down court and finish in traffic.

"She just has a special ability," Kariuki said.

In addition to Maxwell's double-double, Vivian Moore had 10 for Central while Bonita Vista was led by 17 from Kaylyn Buchanon-Lamb and 14 from Mahliya Wilson.