Providence girls’ basketball secures share of seventh straight league title

BURBANK — Throughout Liberty League play this season, the Providence High girls’ basketball team has had a credo that helped motivate the squad.

The Pioneers saw each league victory as earning a piece of what they hoped would eventually be another league championship banner.

On Wednesday, Providence added a final piece to that banner.

The Pioneers overcame a shaky first half against Milken Community and turned things on in the second half to roll to a 46-30 victory at Providence on senior night that gave them a share of the Liberty League title.

It is the seventh straight league championship for the Pioneers (16-8, 7-0 in league), who have won 10 straight league contests.

“It feels great to win the championship, especially after we lost the big five seniors last season,” said Providence senior Fabi Jimenez, who has won four titles with the Pioneers. “It’s just undescribable to be able to win in this year.

“There was a lot of pressure on us this year because we didn’t want to be the team that stopped the league streak. Winning six straight before this was really big and we just wanted to be able to win it and keep it going. …It was a big goal for me my senior year to win a championship.”

Jimenez paced the Pioneers with 17 points, while senior Jasmine Ramirez contributed eight points and seven rebounds and Ariel Gordillo added seven points and three steals.

Providence, which is ranked No. 7 in CIF Southern Section Division V-AA, can win the league crown outright with a victory Tuesday against host Holy Martyrs, which is in second place with one loss. The Pioneers defeated the Armens, 45-33, in the teams’ first meeting Jan. 22.

“It is always tough to play there and they are our rivals,” Providence Coach Andrew Bencze said of Holy Martyrs. “And although we already have a part of the league title, they can get their part if they beat us. So I know they will be motivated against us.”

Providence had its problems early against Milken Community (8-11, 1-4). The Pioneers committed 12 turnovers in the first half, which helped open the door for the Wildcats.

Six turnovers in the first quarter by Providence helped Milken Community open a 12-9 lead after one quarter.

“They were nervous in the early going,” Bencze said. “Whenever it’s senior night, I know we are always going to have some nerves; that’s just the way it is. We had to just battle through it and, although we might be shaky early, it might take us a little while for us to climb back into it.

“I just told them they have to settle down.”

The Pioneers outscored the Wildcats in the second quarter, 15-8, and went into halftime with a four-point lead, 24-20.

Providence, which forced 26 Wildcats turnovers, began to hit its stride in the third quarter. The Pioneers’ defense allowed Milken just three points on one-for-eight shooting. The Pioneers scored 13 points in the third quarter and went into the final stanza with a 14-point cushion, 37-23.

“I told them to just play defense and everything will work itself out offensively,” Bencze said.

In the second half, the Pioneers committed just six turnovers.

On the fourth, the Pioneers increased their lead to 46-27 after a free throw by Sophia Jimenez with 3:30 remaining.

“It’s great to say we’ve won seven in a row, but for that group, it’s their first title together, and that’s special for them,” Bencze said.