Newport Harbor’s Chase Dionio named CIF Division 4A girls’ basketball player of the year

Three local high school girls’ basketball teams advanced to the CIF Southern Section finals this past season, and those programs were rewarded with accolades to follow.

After leading the Newport Harbor girls’ basketball team to its first section title as a program, junior shooting guard Chase Dionio was named the Player of the Year in Division 4A.

Newport Harbor beat Temecula Rancho Christian 58-45 in the Division 4A final.

Dionio averaged 17.2 points, 2.7 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 steals for the Sailors.

Backcourt partner Cydney Jover, who was also named an All-CIF performer, contributed 12.3 points, 2.6 assists and two steals per game.

As a duo, Dionio and Jover provided something that had been missing from the formula for Newport Harbor in recent seasons, that being outside shooting. They combined to make 67 three-pointers.

Newport Harbor coach Jillian Angell was named the Division 4A Coach of the Year. The thrilling playoff run came in the Sailors’ first postseason under Angell in six seasons.

The Sailors (19-3) went undefeated in winning the Wave League championship.

Sage Hill defeated Ontario Christian 62-55 in the Division 3AA final for its first CIF title in girls’ basketball. Senior center Emily Elliott and junior point guard Isabel Gomez, two cornerstones of the Lightning’s rise to the top, were selected to the All-CIF roster.

Elliott provided 13.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.1 steals, two assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game for Sage Hill. The multi-sport athlete signed with the Cal State Los Angeles women’s volleyball program.

Gomez, who was the Daily Pilot Girls’ Basketball Dream Team Player of the Year as a sophomore, contributed across the board. She averaged 12.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, five assists, 2.8 steals and 1.3 blocks. Gomez shot 40.3% from beyond the arc and 80.4% from the free-throw stripe.

Sage Hill coach Kerwin Walters was named the Division 3AA Coach of the Year.

The Lightning (19-7, 4-4) were the third-place team from the San Joaquin League.

Pacifica Christian Orange County had a pair of freshmen receive All-CIF honors.

Annika Jiwani paced the Tritons with 21.2 points per game, adding averages of 9.1 points, 3.8 assists and 3.4 steals. She drained 61 three-pointers on the season.

Lauryn Ham scored 15.9 points to go with 3.9 assists, 2.8 steals and 2.7 rebounds per game.

Pacifica Christian (15-5, 7-1), the Academy League champion, advanced to the Division 5A championship game, falling to Woodland Hills Louisville 57-49.

Laguna Beach sophomore Sophie Marriner also earned an All-CIF selection. She supplied 13.7 points, 15.2 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 1.3 blocks per contest.

The Breakers (7-18, 1-5) finished in a tie with Marina for third place in the Wave League this season.

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