CIF GIRLS PLAYOFFS

Bishop Montgomery 50, Rio Mesa 44--Point guard Lily Cabaleiro scored 15 of her game-high 23 points in the first quarter to spark the Knights to an early lead and eventual victory in a 4-A playoff opener at Bishop Montgomery.

Cabaleiro hit three three-point shots in the first quarter as the Knights (15-9) opened a 17-7 lead. They will play Artesia (18-9) in the second round Saturday night. The home team will be determined today by coin flip.

Forward Stacy Smith had seven points and 17 rebounds for Bishop Montgomery, and freshman forward Natalie Graham contributed six points, seven rebounds and five steals in addition to limiting Rio Mesa’s top player, freshman Marion Jones, to 16 points.

Cabaleiro finished with four three-pointers.

Capistrano Valley 59, Inglewood 28--The Lady Sentinels could not overcome 14% shooting from the floor (eight of 58) and lost in the first round of the 5-A playoffs at Capistrano Valley.

“We didn’t execute in the half-court offense at all,” said Inglewood Coach Arnold Blalark, whose team finished with a 14-7 record. “We played horrible half-court basketball.”

Senior forward Nicole Blue, who entered the game leading Inglewood with a 14.6 scoring average, made just two of 17 shots and finished with four points. Guard Keisha Scott led the Lady Sentinels with 12 points on two of 12 shooting from the floor and seven of eight from the foul line.

Capistrano Valley (17-9) extended a one-point lead to 19-7 by reeling off 10 unanswered points late in the first quarter. Sophomore guard Alisa Farr led the Cougars with 27 points, including five three-point shots in seven attempts. Guard Peggy Rivas added 11 points.

“We knew who their shooters were, but we didn’t get out on them real well,” Blalark said. “We didn’t play hard at all.”

Capistrano Valley made 34 of 60 field goals.