Caruthers High girls basketball team wins state title in tribute to late Larry Trigueiro
.jpeg "The Caruthers High girls basketball pose for a photo after winning the CIF Division II state championship on Saturday, March 15, 2025.")
The late Larry Trigueiro always had a hand in the Caruthers High girls basketball program. It has always been that way when he arrived in Caruthers.
He was a huge fixture for the Blue Raiders for the past 12 years, helping head coach Anna Almeida along the way.
Trigueiro unexpectedly died Feb. 26 hours after the Blue Raiders played Clovis High in the Central Section playoffs.
His death was on the minds of the Caruthers players during the California Interscholastic Federation state playoffs. The Blue Raiders made their march through the state playoffs by taking care of business.
And Saturday’s Division II state championship was no different.
The Blue Raiders controlled the game and rolled to a 56-37 victory over Rancho Bernardo-San Diego for back-to-back state championships at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. Last season, Caruthers won Division III.
“We dedicated this postseason to him,” said Almeida, while holding back tears. “Obviously, we’re glad that we finished the mission for him. Really big deal for us and his family. His family text (us) afterwards and they were super happy and proud. They were supporting the team from afar.”
The players had “LT” and a “heart” on the back of the shoes in honor of Trigueiro.
Leading the way for the Blue Raiders (26-6) was Emmi Almeida who finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
“They knew the mission, they said it themselves,” Anna Almeida said. “They’ve all talked about it; they talk about it with our sports psychologist that comes and sees them. They said that mission themselves and they went after it.”
Almeida said she felt comfortable with the win in the fourth quarter despite Rancho Bernardo trying to get back in the game.
The Blue Raiders biggest lead was 25 points before the Broncos trimmed the lead down to 47-33.
Trigueiro led Washington Union to a Division II state championship as a player with a 29-0 record, according to section historian Bob Barnett. He was also an assistant at Washington Union in 1999 when they state title in 1999.
Almeida said Trigueiro was her right-hand man who would often call out plays and make game-time adjustments.
“Things that I need to do,” she said. “He was at all my practices when he wasn’t with his daughter. He helped me with game prep, everything. Watch films, get films. He was always with me.”
This story was originally published March 15, 2025 at 8:24 PM.
