Girls basketball: Canyon earns share of league title; Sierra Canyon’s Juju Watkins dazzles
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CANYON COUNTRY — With a share of the Foothill League title hanging in the balance, the Canyon girls basketball team was running out of time.
Aaliyah Garcia drove to the paint and into a sea of Hart players, then passed to Josie Regez. Even though the clock showed five seconds, Regez shot a 3-pointer without even flinching. The ball went in and secured a 41-39 win.
“I honestly wasn’t thinking,” Regez said. “I just shot the ball and I’m happy it went in.”
Canyon coach Jessica Haayer said that Regez is a natural shooter and after a first half in which her shots just didn’t fall, Regez peaked at the right time. And, of course, she had Garcia to help her set everything up.
Josie Regez drains a three with five seconds left and Canyon beats Hart, 41-39.
If both teams win their final game of Foothill League play, they'll share the league title. pic.twitter.com/96yBCqjZRX
— Haley Sawyer (@haleymsawyer) February 2, 2022
Hart had home court advantage as well as an advantage in the Foothill League standings heading into Tuesday night’s game. A week prior, it had beaten the Cowboys by three points in Canyon’s gym. With the two teams splitting the series, the top of the standings are now tied up.
If Hart (18-5, 8-1 Foothill League) beats Valencia on Friday and Canyon (18-8, 8-1 Foothill League) beats Saugus, they’ll share the Foothill League title.
“When it comes down to the Foothill League and the rivalry, it’s just a big thing,” Haayer said. “It’s big. It’s big for the kids, the community. And then obviously, as coaches, Jerry (Mike) and I have been going against each other for years and years.”
Canyon is settling into itself now. Jade Sims with the easy bucket and the Cowboys lead Hart, 16-10, with 4:20 left in the second quarter. pic.twitter.com/1gzlOAaSdB
— Haley Sawyer (@haleymsawyer) February 2, 2022
Mike is in his second year as head coach at Hart, but spent 19 years at Valencia before that where he compiled a 373-171 record and perhaps most notably, beat Haayer’s Canyon team, 50-45, in the CIF Southern Section Division 1AA finals in 2017.
The players were aware of the history on Tuesday night, and the excitement showed. Canyon was the first team to settle into itself and took a 16-10 lead with just over four minutes left until halftime.
Slowly, Hart was able to flip the score and work its way to a 32-26 advantage with two free throws from Kayla Hourigan in the final frame. The lead was brief.
“I think we were really hyped up because of the stakes of this game,” Regez, who scored 14 points, said. “At halftime, we kind of were like, we know what we’re doing. Just stick to the game plan. And I think we really regrouped and changed it around in the second half.”
In the latest CIF Southern Section polls, Hart was ranked No. 1, while Canyon sat at No. 2 in the Division 3AA standings. The Cowboys’ win and finish in the Foothill League could have playoff implications, but for now, the focus is on ending this week strong.
“In terms of the Foothill League,” Haayer said, “I think it’s a big deal to finish and be able to hold your hands on the air and I know that you’re champs. It’s a big deal.”
JUJU WATKINS DOMINATES
Sierra Canyon thumped Windward 85-53 thanks to junior Juju Watkins’ 37 points and 23 rebounds against her former team. Mackenly Randolph added 25 points and 15 rebounds for the Trailblazers (22-1, 5-0) who will clinch their Gold Coast League title with a win Friday against Crossroads.
The Trailblazers are likely to lock up a top seed in the CIF-SS Open Division when the pairings are released Tuesday.
MISSION LEAGUE SHOWDOWN
Chaminade took down Harvard-Westlake 59-44 to set up a chance for the Eagles to earn a share of the Mission League crown at home against Marlborough on Friday at 3 p.m.
Kayla Cabaccang scored 10 points, Jessa Thurman added 10 points and six rebounds, and Alanna Neale pitched in 10 points and eight rebounds.