The Golden Bears handled business early with a 15-0 first quarter run and were able to hold off a strong final three quarters from St. Joseph to preserve the win.
"It was really exciting and all my team was working together," said sophomore
Lylah Love. "We've been practicing, so we've been ready for this."
Love and senior
Apajok Ayuen were crucial during that run and in the game. Love had the first 3-point basket and finished with 13 points while Ayuen chipped in 15 points with seven rebounds, five assists and three steals herself.
Sierra Pacific won the Division V championship in 2018 and got back to the state title this season by beating Oakland Tech 66-62 on Tuesday.
Senior
Nyang Ayuen scored 32 in that game and contributed 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks tonight.
Sierra Pacific players and coaches hoist the CIF Division II trophy after beating St. Joseph 56-47 on Saturday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. (PHOTO: David Steutel)
"I'm gonna deeply miss the twins and their ability to connect," said Sierra Pacific head coach Victor Chavarin Jr. "That special bond of how close they are and how they led this team is why we are here today."
Apajok and Nyang are twins, while younger sister
Ayak Ayuen is a sophomore who tallied 13 points and seven rebounds.
"They push me hard and they yell at me a lot but at the end of the day we work together and win games," Ayak said.
Sierra Pacific jumped out to a 20-9 lead after the first quarter before St. Joseph roared back and used a 9-0 run to tie the game up 29-29 early in the third quarter.
"Today's game didn't go away but I don't think that takes away from the season that we had with this group. We should be super proud of ourselves," said first-year St. Joseph head coach Danielle Morgan. "I think we really picked it up when we made adjustments and really turned it up in the second half."
Apajok Ayuen scored 15 points with seven rebounds, five assists and three steals as Sierra Pacific won the CIF Division II championship 56-47 over St. Joseph. (PHOTO: David Steutel)
But the Sierra Pacific defense locked in and allowed St. Joseph to score just four points over the next seven minutes.
"I have 10 amazing athletes that have proven me wrong so much that I will never lose faith in them," Chavarin Jr. said.
Sierra Pacific extended its lead to double-digits in the fourth quarter when Ayak Ayuen pulled down an offensive rebound and put it back up for two points.
