Menlo News February 22, 2022

CCS: Girls’ basketball champions!

Menlo beats Harker in final after dominating SHP, Scotts Valley

The Menlo girls’ basketball team handed Harker its only two losses this season, the latest a 54-49 win, to claim the Central Coast Section Div. IV Championship on its home court Saturday.
CCS girls' basketball final 2022Menlo senior Jazlin Chen fights to put up a shot in the second ha... CCS girls' basketball final 2022
Menlo senior Jazlin Chen fights to put up a shot in the second half against Harker
Credit: P. McKenney
The top seeded Knights pulled away in the fourth quarter, starting with senior Jazlin Chen’s free throws to give Menlo a slight lead 41-39 with 4:40 left. Freshman Karen Xin sank one of her four three-pointers on a Shannon Li feed. The teams would trade baskets until Chen and Li delivered putbacks, giving the Knights a 51-46 advantage with 20.6 seconds left. Harker’s Anjali Yella added her third three of the quarter but the Eagles could only foul down the stretch to stop the barrage of shots.
Xin poured in a team-high 18 points and fellow freshman Angelica Chou added 12 points and seven rebounds. Chen a senior, contributed 10 points, four rebounds and three blocks and provided a great presence in the post. The Knights used their playoff experience to their advantage after competing in the Open quarterfinals and semifinals the past three seasons and winning a state championship in 2019.
“We knew (Harker) really was hungry in (their first CCS final) - we knew we would CCS girls' basketball final 2022Menlo senior Shannon Li looks for an outlet in the fourth quarter... CCS girls' basketball final 2022
Menlo senior Shannon Li looks for an outlet in the fourth quarter of Saturday's CCS final
Credit: P. McKenney
have to come back with that same energy,” Li said. ” We just had to stay calm and play the game, trust each other and execute. I think we did that today. We came together and got the dub. I’m really proud,”
On Sunday, the Knights will find out their matchup for NorCals which begins Tuesday.


Harker 13 11 9 16 - 49 Menlo 13 12 8 21 - 54
H: Yella 7 3-4 20, Miao 1 0-0 3, Lowe 6 2-2 14, Lowe 6 2-2 14, Chan 0 1-2 1, Hoang 4 0-1 9, Lo 1 0-0 2, Three-point goals: Yella 3, Miao, Hoang. Total: 19 6-8 49. M: Chou 5 2-2 12, Liu 1 0-0 3, Xin 5 4-6 18, Brooks 1 0-0 3, Chen 3 4-6 10, Li 3 1-4 7. Three-point goals: Liu, Xin 4, Brooks, Li. Total: 18 11-18 54.

 

Menlo 54, Scotts Valley 35

2.24.2022 – The Menlo girls’ basketball team charged past Scotts Valley 54-35 to pave its way to the CCS Div. IV Championship game Saturday.
Menlo senior Jazlin Chen posted a double-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds against Scotts Valley... Menlo senior Jazlin Chen posted a double-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds against Scotts Valley on Thursday.
Credit: P. McKenney
The Knights jumped out to a 20-5 lead and never looked back. Against Scotts Valley, senior Jazlin Chen recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Shannon Li added 12 points and freshman Angelica Chou grabbed eight rebounds. Senior guard Kaitlin Imai led Scotts Valley with 10 points.
“We installed a zone to isolate players on the court earlier this season, and that was our focus tonight,” Chen said “It’s gone really well. We really had a good flow with our defense and I think you could see that in tonight’s game.”
In an all-WBAL matchup. the top-seeded Knights (11-8) of the Foothill Division will host No 3 Harker (24-1) of the Skyline Division on Saturday. The teams met Menlo's Jordan Brooks finds an outlet in Thursday's semifinal once before with Menlo handing the division champion Eagles their lone loss of the season 58-49.

 

Menlo 59, Sacred Heart Prep 17

2.22.2022 – In a CCS Div. IV opener, the Menlo girls’ basketball team rolled to a 59-17 victory over Sacred Heart Prep at home Tuesday.
The top seeded Knights (10-8) quickly bolted to an 18-2 first-quarter lead, thanks in large part to senior Shannon Li, who drained four three-pointers in the first 3:28. Li finished the day with 25 points and five rebounds to lead eight scorers.
Freshman Angelica Chou added 11 points and senior Jazlin Chan had 10 for the Knights.
In Thursday’s semifinals, Menlo will play No. 4 Scotts Valley (15-8), a 51-33 winner over Carmel.