Magnolia in foul mood after losing to Sacred Heart in Division III final

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San Francisco Sacred Heart finally started playing like the team I had read about before the girls’ Division III state championship game, blowing out Magnolia in the fourth quarter and winning, 48-33, at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

The Fightin’ Irish, ranked No. 1 in the nation by three publications, outscored Magnolia, 17-6, in the fourth quarter.

After the great start today, the referees once again decided to play a game of ‘whose whistle is the loudest,’’ and sent a parade of players to the free-throw line in the second half.

Unfortunately for the Sentinels, most of those freebies belonged to Sacred Heart.

Jhakia McDonald, the Arizona-bound guard for Magnolia, fouled out with just over six minutes remaining. She finished with four points, including only one field goal. Three other Magnolia players fouled out in the fourth quarter. Only one player for Sacred Heart fouled out.

Magnolia Coach Michael Anderson is clearly peeved about the officiating. He and Gary McKnight, the coach of the Mater Dei boys’ team, and Don Braunecker, coach of the Mira Costa girls’ team, can start a recall petition when they get back to Southern California -- send some of these referees back to NJB.

Now we get to watch the Santa Margarita boys’ team take on Sacramento High in the Division III boys’ final. Maybe they should just make it a free-throw contest.

-- Dan Arritt

-- Image from www.fearthebeard.org