Stockdale girls knock off Clovis West to win D-I

Published online on Sunday, Mar. 08, 2009

Finally, Stockdale High had its way with Clovis West.

The No. 2 Mustangs avenged losses to Clovis West in the previous two Central Section Division I girls basketball finals, defeating the top-seeded Golden Eagles 70-60 Saturday at Selland Arena.

"It's great to get the monkey off our back," Stockdale co-coach Glenn Hager said.

Stockdale (25-4) was playing in its fifth straight D-I final. In addition to the back-to-back losses to Clovis West, the Mustangs lost to West in 2006. They beat Central for the 2005 title.

Clovis West has won five D-I titles this decade (2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008).

"They just wanted it more than we did," said junior wing Brianna Orlich, who led the Golden Eagles (21-6) with 21 points.

Melissa Sweat scored a game-high 24 points, including a 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer to give Stockdale a 51-48 edge. She also had a team-leading 12 rebounds. Jalei Kinder and Marissa Bruce scored 13 points and 10 for the Mustangs.

"I think we were just overconfident," said Morgan Hatten, who scored 15 points -- all on 3-pointers -- and had 11 rebounds for the Eagles.

Hatten injured her right knee while battling for a rebound with 2:56 left in the game and the Eagles trailing 62-57. She returned but with a noticeable limp. Clovis West coach Craig Campbell said he's unsure about the nature or severity of the injury.

The Eagles played virtually the entire season without starters Kyndel Kusch and Natalie Butler, who went down with knee injuries. Clovis West also graduated five seniors, including four all-league picks, from last season's team.

"To get here is tremendous," Campbell said. "I'm really proud of the girls."

Stockdale led 14-13 at the end of the first quarter, but the Eagles took a 37-28 advantage into the half.

The Mustangs outscored the Eagles 42-23 in the final two quarters. They trailed for much of the third before tying the score 44-44 at 2:48 on a 3-pointer by Keilyn Robinson. And then Sweat hit the 3 at the end of the third to put Stockdale in front.

The Mustangs outscored the Eagles 19-12 in the final quarter, with eight of those points from Sweat.

"They got us the last couple of years, but tonight we brought it to them," Sweat said. "We all wanted it. It's the best team effort we've put in."

Janae Coffee had 15 points and 15 rebounds for Clovis West -- but just one point and three rebounds in the fourth quarter.

"Last year we gave up 80-something points to them and this year we gave up 60," Stockdale co-coach Charles Stewart said. "The kids buckled down and executed."