SVCS Girls Basketball Team Succumbs to Chadwick's Pressure

Saddleback Valley Christian High’s girls basketball team was locked up by the pressure defense of second-seeded Chadwick as the Warriors were eliminated from the CIF Southern Section Division 5A playoffs with a 44-20 loss in a quarterfinal game on Wednesday night at Saddleback Valley Christian School.

The Warriors were able to stay close to the Dolphins through the first seven minutes, but a run by Chadwick at the end of the first quarter that continued into the second, pushed the 13-8 lead to 25-11 only a few minutes into the quarter. The Warriors were held to just a baseline three-pointer by Elizabeth Hamada in the second quarter.

“Their defensive pressure was too much for us to handle today,” SVCS coach Danielle Dunn said.

Dunn said her players were able to get some good looks at the basket in the early part of the game, but couldn’t get their shots to fall. As the game progressed, the Dolphins kept heavy pressure on the Warriors' attack and they struggled to get into their offensive sets.

The Warriors were held to only two points in the third quarter as the Dolphins increased their lead to 39-16 heading into the fourth. Hamada and Ashlie Adams led the Warriors with eight points each.

SVCS was expecting a rebuilding season after losing several seniors to graduation from last year’s San Joaquin League championship team. But the Warriors were able to win the outright league title again this season.

Dunn said the team’s defensive effort keyed the strong season, while younger players became more comfortable throughout the season. The Warriors won two games in the playoffs before falling to the No. 2 Dolphins.

“They exceeded my expectations by far," Dunn said "To get to the quarterfinals was more than I expected. We were happy to be there."