Sage Hill bests Laguna Hills in battle of twins

The CIF Southern Section girls’ basketball playoffs began with a twist on Thursday night.

Sage Hill School hosted Laguna Hills in the “Battle of the Twins.”

Sage Hill’s Kate and Kenna Knollenberg took on the Hawks’ Kayla and Lina Chang. Both duos would have a major impact on the game that came down to the last shot.

Lina Chang just missed a three-pointer on Laguna Hills’ final possession, and Sage Hill escaped with a 45-43 victory in the first round of the Division 4AA playoffs.

“They did a great job,” Sage Hill coach Kerwin Walters said of the Hawks’ last look. “[Kayla Chang] did a great job. She brought the ball up, and her sister had a great look at it for a big three. It just missed by that much. That’s a great shot.”

Sage Hill (17-9) will play in the second round at Bell Gardens (20-7) on Saturday. Bell Gardens beat host Banning 42-37 on Thursday.

Sage Hill was without starting point guard Trinity Cha due to a concussion, said Walters. Others stepped up for the Lightning, particularly the Knollenberg twins.

Kate Knollenberg provided a spark off the bench. The senior shooting guard scored 12 points, adding five rebounds and three steals.

“I don’t think we’ve ever done that,” Kate said of facing another set of twins. “When Kerwin told us that they had twins on their team, we were like, ‘Oh, there can only be one.’”

Kenna Knollenberg, the small forward, had eight points, 13 rebounds and five steals. When she grabbed a defensive rebound, she would immediately look for her sister on the outlet pass.

In addition, she was relentless, regardless of the game situation. After picking up her fourth foul, she had two steals in the final two minutes, including a theft and layup that put Sage Hill in the lead for good at 43-41 with 1:50 remaining.

Her intensity was unmatched, as she dived onto the floor for a loose ball not realizing that she committed her fourth foul.

“I didn’t know what they were calling,” Kenna said. “Honestly, when I’m in that mode of intense, I do not hear anything, I do not see anything that does not apply to me. Someone is going to have to yell at me and grab me to stop the play.”

Laguna Hills’ Chang sisters ran the show for the Hawks (13-13). Kayla had a game-high 25 points and six steals. Lina had eight points and seven rebounds.

Xcaret Florian and Evelyn Gama combined for 24 rebounds for Laguna Hills.

Freshman center Emily Elliott had 13 points, 11 rebounds, six steals and three blocked shots for Sage Hill.

The teams were tied at the end of the first quarter 15-15 and at halftime 27-27.

“The last few games, we’ve been playing great team basketball,” Walters said. “They fight for each other.

“It’s been amazing to see and amazing to be a part of. Every moment is exciting with this team. There’s the ups and downs, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Sage Hill is into the second round for the third year in a row. Walters said the Lightning are hopeful that Cha will clear concussion protocol in time for Saturday’s game.

Sage Hill 45, Laguna Hills 43

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Laguna Hills 15 – 12 – 5 – 11 — 43

Sage Hill 15 – 12 – 8 – 10 — 45

LH – K. Chang 25, L. Chang 8, Shaffer 6, Gama 4.

3-pt. goals – L. Chang 2, Shaffer 2.

Fouled out – Florian.

Technicals – None.

SH – Elliott 13, Ka. Knollenberg 12, Ke. Knollenberg 8, Jogwe 6, Shayan-Smith 4, McNeill 2.

3-pt. goals – Elliott 2, Ka. Knollenberg 2, Jogwe 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

andrew.turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @ProfessorTurner