Girls basketball: Marin Catholic continues to find success in NCS playoffs

Just because the Marin Catholic High girls basketball team yielded its stranglehold on the MCAL to Redwood this season, no one should underestimate the Wildcats when it comes to the North Coast Section tournament.

The No. 3-seeded Wildcats stretched their NCS victory streak to 12 straight over four seasons with a 47-41 win against No. 6 Maria Carrillo of Santa Rosa on Saturday night in the Division II quarterfinals.

Marin Catholic advances to the NCS semifinal for the fourth straight year, adding to the program’s legacy that already features three consecutive section championships.

The Wildcats (19-11) take on No. 2 University on Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Kezar Pavilion. University defeated No. 7 Campolindo 48-47.

The Wildcats faced a familiar NCS foe on Saturday night. Last season, Marin Catholic beat Maria Carrillo 56-41 in the NCS D-III final.

In 2023, the Wildcats topped MCAL rival San Marin in the D-III final and beat Piedmont for the Division IV crown in 2022.

It’s no surprise that Marin Catholic first-year coach Kayden Korst feels a little pressure to keep the sectional success coming.

“It’s a ton of pressure,” admits Korst. “We moved up a division. There’s a lot of pressure on these gals and they’ve handled it really well. They don’t want to lose. They’re ready to go.”

Handling the pressure like a pro, Marin Catholic junior forward Cecelia Biernat scored eight of her game-high 15 points in the critical fourth quarter. Sophomore guard Brooke Spagnuolo finished with 13 points. Seniors Jocelyn Gigounas and Izzy McFadden had 11 and eight, respectively.

“It feels great,” said Biernat. “I’m hoping that the streak continues. We were having trouble putting all four quarters together at the beginning of the season but I think we’ve come so far and hopefully we’re ready to win a championship again.”

Maria Carrillo (16-13) did its best to end the Wildcats’ NCS streak, grabbing its first lead of the game with 1:39 remaining in the third quarter on a put-back by Keilana Wayman, who made it 33-32. Daniella Silacci then scored the opening basket of the fourth quarter to give Maria Carrillo a 35-32 lead.

That’s when Biernat took matters into her own hands, scoring on back-to-back plays to lift the Wildcats ahead 36-35 with 5:17 left. Although Wayman gave Maria Carrillo its final lead, 37-36, on an inside bucket, Biernat made sure the Wildcats never trailed after that.

The junior, who seized the moment after seeing limited playing time in the NCS last year, dished off an assist to Spagnuolo, who gave the Wildcats the lead for good, 38-37. Biernat drove the baseline 25 seconds later as the Wildcats pulled ahead 40-37.

Her eight fourth-quarter points were instrumental in helping the Wildcats build a 43-37 cushion with 2:47 remaining. Spagnuolo and Gigounas scored the Wildcats’ final baskets.

“It always comes to mind that I’ve got to do it for my teammates,” said Biernat. “We all have to have the mentality that we lock in and if we all do that — then it makes us all go off.”

Marin Catholic lost to University 57-50 on Dec. 12 amid a four-game losing streak that left the Wildcats disappointedly staring at a 2-4 record. Now they’re returning to the NCS semifinals poised for more.

“It’s exciting,” said Korst. “These girls deserve it and they earned it. I’m extremely proud of everyone in that locker room.”