Menlo News February 21, 2020

CCS: Girls’ basketball headed to Open semis

Knights hold off SHC; Pinewood next
Menlo junior guard Coco Layton delivered six three-pointers for the Knights in the opening round of the CCS Open playoffs.

The Menlo girls’ basketball team fought off a stubborn Sacred Heart Cathedral team Friday night to earn a matchup against a West Bay Athletic League foe in the CCS Open semifinals.
The third-seeded Knights (20-5) face second-seeded Pinewood (22-3) - a 57-35 winner over Sacred Heart Prep - in a semifinal Wednesday, Feb. 26.
Menlo widened a two-point halftime lead and held a 45-36 advantage heading into the final quarter, but SHC went on an eight-point run to take the lead with 39 seconds left. The Knights went ahead 57-56 on Maeia Makoni’s three, then junior Avery Lee sank both free throws with three seconds left to seal the win.
Menlo junior Coco Layton scored a game-high 18 points on six three-pointers. Senior Maeia Makoni added four three-pointers and finished with 16 points to pace the Knights’ charge. Lee contributed 12 points and sophomore Sharon Nejad led the rebounding effort, had a pair of blocks and scored 10 for Menlo.

Sacred Heart Cathedral 14 13 9 20 - 56
Menlo School 18 11 16 14 - 59
SHC: Jones 3 1-4 7, Epps 6 2-2 17, Benitez 4 3-4 12, Marquez 0 1-2 1, Alapti 1 0-0 2, Lewis 5 3-3 13, Lamkin 2 0-0 4. Three-point goals: Epps 3, Benitez. Total: 21 10-15 56. M: Lee 3 6-7 12, Paye 1 0-0 3, Layton 6 0-0 18, Makoni 6 0-0 16, Nejad 4 2-2 10. Three-point goals: Layton 6, Makoni 4, Paye. Total: 20 8-9 59.