Canyon Springs’ Collapse Lets Oakland Tech Prevail

For the first time in the state playoffs, the Moreno Valley Canyon Springs girls’ basketball team didn’t own the fourth quarter.

Oakland Tech stole it Saturday night in the Division I championship game, rallying from a 12-point deficit in the final seven minutes to win its second consecutive title, 64-63, at Arco Arena.

The Bulldogs (22-6) scored the final point when Sayja Sumler made one of two free throws with 5.3 seconds left. After Brittany Williams batted away the ensuing inbound pass, leaving the Cougars with 3.9 seconds to travel the length of the floor, Ebony Ward inbounded to Joanna Siliga, a sophomore reserve who had replaced teammate Jennifer Risper only seconds earlier. Siliga dribbled past midcourt uncontested and reached the three-point line but, instead of shooting, passed the ball a couple feet back to Ward just as the final buzzer sounded.

The Cougars, who came from behind in the fourth quarter to win their three Southern California Regional playoff games, had several opportunities to secure their first state title. They made only three of nine free throws and committed six turnovers after taking a 54-42 lead with 6:38 to play.

The Bulldogs missed three of their final four free throws, keeping Canyon Springs within striking distance.

Lauresha Hawkins had a chance to give the Cougars the lead with 8.8 seconds remaining, but missed one of two free throws. Ward then fouled Sumler in transition.

“If we play this game a year from now, we wouldn’t make so many mistakes,” said Canyon Springs Coach Tammy Guzzetta, whose team had never been past the Southern Section semifinals until this season.

Ward scored 19 points to lead Canyon Springs (31-4), but committed 10 of her team’s 26 turnovers. Brandi Jones-Fitzgerald scored 15 points and Hawkins had 10. Risper, one of only two senior starters for the Cougars, finished with nine points, seven assists and seven rebounds. Risper committed two fouls in the first 1:15 but remained in the game until fouling out with 16.8 seconds left.

Dan Arritt

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Piedmont 82, Brentwood 44 -- There was no stopping the Paris twins, 6-4 Courtney and 6-3 Ashley, who scored 23 and 20 points, respectively, and each grabbed 14 rebounds to lead Piedmont (32-2) to the Division IV championship at Arco Arena.

Brentwood Coach Dave Smith said facing the daughters of former San Francisco 49er lineman Bubba Paris was a difficult task.

“Those Paris twins are awesome,” he said of the Oklahoma-bound seniors. “There’s no way you can’t put them in the top of all-time post players. It’s like Shaq and his brother.”

Brentwood (24-7) received 14 points from Tani Brown and 13 points from Brianne Brown. Piedmont outrebounded the Eagles, 51-22.

-- Eric Sondheimer