Cajon girls finish with a flurry, win first state basketball title

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For three quarters, the unlikely home squad from Elk Grove stood toe to toe with one of Southern California's best.

Not bad for a 12th Northern California seed.

But then, Cajon (San Bernardino) put on the clamps. Then it began to convert baskets. And it went on and on and on.

The Cowboys scored 19 straight points and outscored Elk Grove 24-4 in the fourth quarter en route to a resounding 55-36 victory Saturday in the Division II state finals at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento.

Cajon (28-6) got 17 points apiece from Kayla Washington and Tyla Turner and outrebounded the Thundering Herd 44-21 to win the battle of first time state finalists.

"The girls really turned it on in the fourth quarter," Cajon coach Mark Lehman said. "That was amazing, a 19-0 run. Awesome defense and really great execution."

It's something Cajon is known from playing out of the rugged Southern Section.

Cajon also forced 18 turnovers, getting five steals from Tyra Turner and 12 points and 16 rebounds from Taylor Goldsberry, a 6-foot senior. Washington, another 6-foot senior, added 15 rebounds.

The Cowboys scored just 21 points in the first half and had 31 at the end of three and trailed 32-31. But defensive pressure turned everything around.

"The girls started playing defense the way they know how to play defense," Lehman said. "We thought, 'let's make this last quarter our best quarter.'"

Was it ever.

It spoiled an otherwise spirited effort from Elk Grove, which forced 22 turnovers. Mira Shulman, a 5-8 junior, led the Herd with 15 points and Madison Wong added 10 points.

"I really have to applaud Elk Grove," Lehman said. "They gave us all we could handle for three quarters. They won NorCal as a 12-seed and gave us a game."

Said Elk Grove coach Larry Price: "Hat's off to Cajon. They played great defense and earned it."