HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL STATE FINALS : Ribet Recovers to Win Division V

Sophomore Andre English scored 23 points, including 14 in the second half, to lead La Canada Ribet Academy to a 70-65 victory over San Francisco University for the boys’ State Division V championship Friday at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

Playing without standout senior guard Jemirol Duncan, who injured his knee in Ribet’s victory over Rio Hondo Prep in last week’s Southern Regional final, the Fighting Frogs had to bounce back after trailing by 10 early in the first quarter.

University led, 16-6, before Ribet rallied to tie, 17-17, at the end of the quarter, with junior guard Jason Rowley leading the way in the place of Duncan.

“We were too anxious . . . too tight to play at the beginning,” Ribet senior guard Jaiquin Moore said. “As the game went on, we started to put things together and we pulled it out in the end.”

Without Duncan, who was selected the Southern Section’s 5-A Division player of the year, English, a 6-foot-6 center, and Maxwell, a 6-4 forward, picked up the slack inside.

Ribet never led by more than four points going into the fourth quarter. University stayed close behind the scoring of Linton Elliott, who finished with 18 points. However, Ribet made a key defensive stand midway through the quarter that led to a 10-5 run for the Fighting Frogs to finish the game.

“I told the team that we could never replace a player like (Duncan), but everyone could do what they do best and we’ll win,” said Ribet Coach Mike Miller, whose Fighting Frogs finish with a 32-2 record. “All week long we didn’t know if he could play or not. Once we found out Thursday, we just had to pick ourselves up.”

English led Ribet with eight rebounds and two blocked shots. Travis Smith scored 19 points, with Maxwell and Moore adding 11 points each.

GIRLS’ FINALS

DIVISION V

Atherton Menlo 65, El Cajon Christian 48--Kate Paye accounted for 41 points to lead the Knights to their third consecutive girls’ State Division V championship.

Paye, a 5-foot-7 senior, scored 21 points and had 10 assists, eight steals and six rebounds to lead Menlo, which is coached by her brother John, a former Stanford and San Francisco 49er quarterback.

Paye helped Menlo, the Central Coast champion, jump to a 12-0 lead by scoring 10 points and assisting on two more. Christian, which finishes 24-5, was overmatched by the Knights, who also received a strong performance from Laurie Stucker, who had a team-high 24 points and 15 rebounds.

With the victory, Menlo--which finishes the season with a 29-7 record--takes over as the school with the most overall state basketball titles, five. Its boys’ teams have won two State Division II titles.

Stacey Patsko led Christian, the San Diego Section champion, with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

DIVISION IV

Santa Maria St. Joseph 46, San Rafael 41--Anna McConnell scored all five overtime points for St. Joseph as the Knights rallied in the second half to win their first State girls’ Division IV championship.

McConnell, a 5-foot-7 guard, took charge in the extra period to finish with a team-high 13 points. Her sister, Amy, a 6-foot center, grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds, and Claudia Nunez scored 10 points.

St. Joseph led, 18-15, at halftime, before San Rafael rallied behind the scoring of Rachel Cohen, who finished with 13 points, to take a five-point lead going into the fourth quarter.

St. Joseph, the Southern Section Division IV-A champion, finishes with a 27-5 record. San Rafael, the North Coast Section champion, finishes 29-6.