Girls’ basketball: Sierra Canyon headed to state final

It came down to free throws and Sierra Canyon made them when it counted to upset Gardena Serra, 59-52, in the Southern California Regional Division IV final at Colony High.

Alexis Griggsby and Kennedy Burke each scored 15 points as the second-seeded Trailblazers (27-4) pulled away in the final eight minutes of a game that was tied 38-38 after three quarters. Sierra Canyon made 22 of 26 foul shots, including 15 of 18 in the fourth quarter.

“Every practice we shoot free throws because it’s kind of our weakness,” said Burke, who was 7-of-8 from the foul line. “It’s a free shot, but I still get nervous. My coach tells me to bend my knees because I’m tall (6-foot-1). We knew they were athletic so our plan was to make them shoot from the outside.”

Cydney Bolton scored 11 points, Kayla Bibb had 10, Caila Hailey had nine points and four steals and Camille Hailey and Nautica Morrow each added eight points for the top-seeded Cavaliers (25-5), who trailed 17-16 at halftime.

Sierra Canyon, which won the Division V state championship last season, will play either Justin-Siena or Arcata for the Divison IV state title at 10 a.m. next Saturday at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento.