Live! CIF Northern California basketball finals

Bishop O'Dowd boys, Salesian girls win Open titles; Monte Vista, Folsom, Drake, Moreau and St. Joseph are other male victors. Surprise Pleasant Grove girls, Mitty, Modesto Christian, Justin-Siena and Pinewood also victorious.

By Mitch Stephens

Mar 22, 2014, 12:00am

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Salesian celebrates its Open Division girls championship over Miramonte at Sleep Train Arena.

Photo by Todd Shurtleff

Open Division girls
Salesian (Richmond) 78, Miramonte (Orinda) 64

Salesian coach Stephen Pezzola has been saying it all season. And Saturday - on an NBA court — he could scream it to the steep, largely-vacant bleachers.

“Were not just Mariya Moore,” he said after his team’s convincing 78-64 win at Sleep Train Arena. “We’re Salesian High School.”

Kian McNair, Salesian

Photo by Todd Shurtleff

Moore is a McDonald’s All-American and the reigning San Francisco Chronicle Metro Player of the Year, but Saturday, saddled in foul trouble, playing the role of player, took just four shots and scored seven points.

But the Pride (30-6), racing to a 26-5 early second quarter lead, had plenty more.

That included Moore’s sophomore sister Minyon Moore (13 points, four assists). Deja Stallworth, a 6-foot-1 senior, grabbed four offensive rebounds, made 6 of 7 shots for 12 points.

Kian McNair, an ever-improving 5-4 junior point guard, made two key 3-pointers, to go with three steals, six assists and a team-high 18 points. Taylor Crowder came off the bench in the third when Miramonte (30-2) made a strong run to score eight.

Zoe Correal, a 6-4 post, and glue starter Alana Horton combined for 15 points. The Pride play Long Beach Poly in next week’s state title game.

“I wish I wouldn’t have fouled so much and helped me team more on the court,” said Mariya Moore, who had nine assists and seven rebounds. “But I always have faith in my team. I knew we could maintain our lead and win.”

Miramonte, coming off an 92-87 win over second-seed Carondelet-Concord, somehow overcame a sluggish start to close to 58-53 early in the fourth quarter following three straight 3-pointers by super sophomore Sabrina Ionescu (23 points).

But Salesian had too depth and poise. I 3-pointer by Mariya Moore midway through the fourth was the key dagger.

Breanna Alford, one of four Miramonte seniors, finished with 11 points and seven rebounds. The Matadors committed 27 turnovers.

“Maybe the Carondelet game was our championship game,” Miramonte coach Kelly Sopak said. “We had two big wins on the road and we came out a little sluggish. But Salesian had a lot to do with that.”



Next page: Divison I girls — Pleasant Grove completes improbable mission over Berkeley

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