‘We had to get it done’: San Ramon Valley avenges NCS loss to Carondelet with NorCal quarterfinal win
CONCORD — San Ramon Valley couldn’t have been more motivated to face Carondelet again.
“Very, very, very, very, very,” SRV coach John Cristiano said.
The Wolves felt they let the NCS Open Division championship slip out of their grip on Saturday in Dublin, and they were determined not to let it happen again.
Carondelet made them earn every bit of it. But in the teams’ fourth matchup this season, SRV prevailed 51-44, advancing to the CIF NorCal Open Division semifinals and clinching the season series 3-1.
“We had to get it done,” said SRV freshman forward Presley Uchikura, whose key block in the final minute extinguished Carondelet’s last best chance to win. “I was just like, ‘Let’s go get it.’ I love defense. Defense is like my favorite thing to do ever. It’s so fun for me. And to be able to get out on that shot was just an amazing feeling.”
Uchikura swatted Carondelet’s corner 3-pointer with about 15 seconds left, then Hania Bowes secured the rebound with 13.7 to play.
Much like her 3-pointer from the top of the key that put SRV up 49-42 with 58.6 seconds remaining, Bowes calmly and confidently sank both free throws, putting the finishing touches on what Cristiano termed the Wolves’ “get-back” in Concord.
“I was super pumped,” Bowes said. “I wasn’t getting many open shots throughout the game, which is one of my main strengths. And honestly, on offense as a whole, I wasn’t doing as well as I was hoping. But I knew that once I had the opportunity, I wouldn’t let myself miss. And so I had full confidence when I was taking that shot.”
After winning 50-49 on Saturday night, it was reasonable to expect a bit of a letdown from the Cougars. But Carondelet (25-6) matched SRV’s intensity and appeared just as motivated to win bragging rights from the season series.
The Cougars cut a 38-28 SRV lead after three quarters down to two on multiple occasions and were poised to ruin the Wolves’ revenge game down the stretch. But when the stakes were raised to all-in for the final two minutes, it was SRV that made the winning plays and finished the game on a 7-2 run.
“On Saturday, we made big shots,” Carondelet coach Kelly Sopak said. “They missed big shots. Today, we missed big shots, they made big shots. At 44-42, we had our shot. Saturday night, we answered everything. Tonight, we didn’t have the answers.
“It started 7-0 and it ended by seven. So that’s what happens when you dig yourself a hole. But we battled. Great season, and the better team won tonight.”
SRV (26-4) advances to face top seed Archbishop Mitty in the semifinals. It’s a dream opportunity for Uchikura, who idolizes Mitty five-star forward McKenna Woliczko.
“She’s amazing,” Uchikura said. “I’ve been looking up to her for a very long time, coming to her games since I was little. I came to the game that she got injured (last year), and I’m remembering how devastating that was. I’m so happy that she’s back and that I’m able to play her in her senior season. It’s amazing.”
In another coincidence, Woliczko tore her ACL and meniscus on the same floor Wednesday’s game was played.
But that was last year. This time around, SRV was the team leaving Carondelet’s gym triumphant, vindicated as the top team in the East Bay this season.
“One of our goals since the beginning of the season was just to even get to this point,” Uchikura said. “So to be able to have that blessing, to be able to come out there and play them, it’s just insane. Like, we’re so grateful. We’re so excited, and hopefully it’ll be a good game.”
Uchikura led all scorers with 16 points. Ella Gunderson and Alyssa Rudd each added 13.
Senior UC Davis signee Layla Dixon led Carondelet with 10 points in her final high school game. Niylah Christopher added nine points, and Janel Nevares scored eight.