DIVISION III GIRLS’ PLAYOFFS : Santana Gets Everyone Involved in Title Win

It was unthinkable to suggest to the Santana girls’ basketball team that the Sultans might not win Division III title.

After coming up short in the finals the past two years, losing to Mt. Carmel by just one point in Division I last year, there was no denying the Sultans.

Santana, playing more balanced game than in the past, defeated Kearny, 46-36, at Golden Hall Friday.

“(Winning this title) was my goal from the second we lost it last year,” said Desiree Weimann, a four-year starter. “All the practice over the summer. The best thing is that the entire team did it.”

That team concept was the key to Santana’s victory. Weimann and Stephanie Thompson, the county’s fifth- and third-leading scorers, have carried the team all year. But Friday, the other players who emerged as the stars of the game.

Weimann and Thompson were still instrumental in the victory, but Erin Pope and Theresa Stippey both finished with nine points. Thompson, who was seven-for-nine from the line, finished with 15 points and Weimann with 11.

Three weeks ago, Santana Coach Wade Vickery pulled Thompson and Weimann aside in practice and told them the other players needed to be emphasized more. Section titles are not won by two players alone, he told them.

“In practice we worked on the other girls competing more,” Weimann said. “They contributed at the right time.”

Kearny was concentrating on Weimann, allowing Vickery’s plan for more balanced scoring to be effective.

“We were worried about Weimann,” Kearny Coach Joe Hernandez said. “We were very aware we couldn’t leave her alone. She makes Thompson and that team go.”

Not until 4:15 remained in the first quarter was a basket scored from the field, Pope giving Santana a 9-2 lead.

Neither team shot well in the first half--Santana was nine-for-31 and Kearny was four-for-26 from the field.

Santana led 36-19 in the third period before Kearny closed to within 41-32 with two minutes left. Kearny’s Melissa Krause scored six of her 18 points in the fourth quarter. Her sister Shelli finished with 10.

“Our plan was to shut them out,” Vickery said. “But that’s the game plan every time. We just wanted to play good solid defense.”