CIF high school basketball: San Domenico starts cold, comes alive for girls Division V title win over Shalhevet

SACRAMENTO – It's not how you start. The San Domenico (San Anselmo) girls basketball overcame an 0-for-10 start from the field, but rebounded for a hot start in the second half and beat Shalhevet (Los Angeles) 38-27 on Friday in the CIF girls Division V finals.

"That's our team, a lot of highs and lows," said Panthers' coach Michael Fulton. "I thought we were ready, but I think the big stadium (Golden 1 Center) got to us."

The Panthers did crack the ice until Avery Conklin hit two buckets with less than a minute remaining in the first period. And while San Domenico was looking to find its range, the Firehawks couldn't gain separation.

Shalhevet was 3-of-8 shooting in the first period, but owned a 7-4 edge after the first quarter despite losing their star Yalee Schwartz to an ankle injury that sidelined her the rest of the game.

"Credit to them for losing their best play and fighting all night," Fulton said.

To make matters worse, the Firehawks were 0-for-7 from the free throw line in the second quarter and finished the night 6-for-19.

"We tried blindfolding everyone (shooting free throws) because I thought it'd be fun. It's never been tried before," Shalhevet coach Ryan Coleman joked, getting serious while adding "you can't win when you miss free throws."

Trailing by three at intermission, the Panthers were as hot to start the second half as they were cold at the opening tip. San Domenico began the third quarter on a 9-1 run on a pair of field goals from senior Noku Mukukula, a bucket from Polish exchange student Maja Cykowska and a 3-pointer by Piper Fleece that gave them a 20-15 edge.

And while Shalhevet clawed back to within two at 29-27, the Firehawks went scoreless over the final four minutes. The Panthers got their final separation when sophomore guard Summer Jenkins came up with a steal at midcourt and went the other way for a bucket and foul.

"I didn't have my best game," Jenkins said. "But it felt nice. I wasn't sure the shot was going to go in."

Shalhevet - 7, 7, 7, 6 - 27

San Domenico - 4, 7, 13, 14 - 38

Firehawks - Kupferman 3, Schwartz 4, Tibi 5, Grossman 6, Tizabi 9.

Panthers - Cykowska 2, Jenkins 4, Fleece 6, Conklin 7, Mukukula 7, Reeser 12

3-pointers - SH: 3 (Grossman 2, Kupferman); SD: 3 (Reeser, Conklin, Fleece)