Girls’ Basketball: Sage Hill edged again
The Sage Hill School girls’ basketball team didn’t want it to come to this.
After another close and excruciating loss, the Lightning will undoubtedly be saying to themselves that the third time is the charm.
That is because for the second consecutive game, Sage Hill suffered a one-point defeat in a league home game.
Austyn Masuno had 25 points and 10 rebounds, and Oxford Academy came away with an important 41-40 victory over the Lightning in an Academy League game at Sage Hill.
The storyline remained the same as the Calvary Chapel game. Sage Hill stayed in contact after falling behind early, only to see its comeback go for naught at the end.
Give full marks to Masuno, who kept her cool despite receiving a technical foul in the final minute. The Patriots (11-4, 3-1 in league) led, 35-32, when Masuno was called for an elbow after being fouled by Kenna Knollenberg to send her to the line.
Masuno repeatedly shook her head after the call, but she still had to face a 1-and-1 situation at the free-throw line. She knocked down both, and Sage Hill’s Heather Park missed both of her technical free throws.
The Lightning (8-8, 1-2) maintained possession as a result of the technical, and Kate Knollenberg was fouled in the corner on a three-point attempt. She drained all three shots to cut the deficit to two.
Sage Hill was never afforded the chance to go for the tie, as the ball consistently found its way into the hands of Masuno in the closing moments.
The sophomore center proved to have nerves of steel. Masuno scored all 12 of the Patriots’ points in the fourth quarter, going 8 for 8 from the free-throw line (13 of 14 for the game).
“When it comes to the end of the game, a lot of teams rough us up and foul just because they think that’s the only way to stop us,” Masuno said. “I really work on my free throws, and I try to make sure that I can finish it in the end.”
Masuno’s clutch free throws could not have come at a better time for Oxford Academy, which struggled to find any offensive production from deep. The Patriots did not make a three-pointer in the game.
“It is critical for us to get a lead and hold it because of the outside game, the way that we’re shooting right now,” Patriots Coach David Clifton said. “We have to set the tone quick, and you don’t want to say hang on, but Sage Hill is a no-quit team.”
It was a season-changing game, as both teams took early losses to a surprising Downey Calvary Chapel squad.
“We know that we still have a chance to win league,” Masuno said. “We just tried our best to come out here and win so that we could still have that chance.”
The Lightning got off to a better start on Thursday, an effort that was sparked by an energetic Park. She had the first 11 points for Sage Hill. At the end of that personal streak, Oxford’s lead stood at 13-11 early in the second quarter.
Sage Hill began the fourth quarter down, 29-22, but an 18-point final frame got the team right back in it. The Lightning cut the deficit to 31-30 on threes by Trinity Cha and Park, but they never drew even.
Masuno made sure of that by scoring 10 points in the final 1:24.
“Another tough one,” Lightning coach Kerwin Walters said. “I thought that we played really hard. Overall, I couldn’t be more happy with the effort that we gave.”
“We just have to learn how to come out [ahead] in these close games. The good news is that we get to play another one.”
Academy League
Oxford Academy 41, Sage Hill 40
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Oxford Academy – 13 - 8 - 8 - 12 – 41
Sage Hill – 9 - 7 - 6 - 18 – 40
OA – Masuno 25, Lopez 8, Chan 4, Madrazo 4.
3-pt. goals – None.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – Masuno.
SH – Park 18, Ka. Knollenberg 9, Cha 6, Ke. Knollenberg 4, Akbari 3.
3-pt. goals – Park 2, Cha 2, Ka. Knollenberg 1.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
