Banning girls basketball overwhelms San Fernando in final quarter to win City Division II crown

7 hours ago

LOS ANGELES — The coaching staff for Banning girls basketball had a simple and direct message for the team Friday at the start of the fourth quarter of the CIF L.A. City Section Division II championship game.

Give it your all.

The No. 1-seeded Pilots did just that.

Banning, which began the fourth quarter with a three-point lead, dominated San Fernando in the final eight minutes for a 57-36 victory at L.A. Southwest College.

Banning players celebrates after winning against San Fernando High School in the CIF L.A. City Section girls basketball Div. II final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

1 of 19

Lakers’ offense humming again: ‘We’re figuring it out’

Expand

The Pilots outscored San Fernando 22-4 in the final period to win their second consecutive championship.

“(Coach Bridgett Conejo told us) play like you’ve never played before,” Banning’s Alina Argueta said. “A lot of us are seniors. We had to leave it all out on the court.”

Leading 38-35 to start the fourth, Sara Gonzales’ 3-pointer got the Pilots rolling before Argueta found Melony Bernabe (9 points) inside the paint as Banning took a seven-point lead.

Argueta wasn’t done. She fed Joshlyn Harris inside the paint to give Banning a 42-32 lead with 6 minutes to play.

“I’ve always been hesitant to drive,” Argueta said. “Once I see the defender is a little hesitant on defense and cautious or looking for screens, I know to drive. If she’s not focused on me, I’ll take it to the rim. If the defense comes to me to help, I’ll share the ball.”

Argueta, who said her role in the offense was to manage the clock and get the offense rolling, finished with 11 points and 12 assists.

Banning had problems in the first half, mainly with its confidence. The Pilots committed 11 turnovers in the first half, including six in the second quarter.

“We were nervous and we had jitters,” Conejo said. “We had the talent and knew how to play defense, but it was that lack of energy.”

It didn’t help that Harris was hit with her third foul late in the first quarter. Harris scored four of her 12 points in the opening quarter.

“All we can do is keep our hands up and pick (Harris) up,” Argueta said. “It’s hard having your biggest defender, the one that gets the most blocks, in foul trouble. Everyone picked up the pieces, got her back and lifted her up.”

Best whipped cream dispenser

Ilena Lopez was a thorn in the Pilots’ side in the opening quarter. The San Fernando guard scored nine of her 11 points in the first.

“We didn’t come out like we wanted to, our energy and intensity weren’t there,” Conejo said. “(Lopez) earned those 11 (points). She was able to get in front of our girls and be more physical.”

Banning led 21-17 after the first two quarters, but San Fernando began the third quarter on a tear. The Tigers started the second half on a 13-2 run to take a 30-23 advantage.

“They were hitting transition 3s and (they were) uncontested,” Conejo said. “We were able to call a timeout, relax the girls and say we have to stop their shooters.”

San Fernando’s Delilah Caudillo scored six of her 13 points in the third quarter, but Banning closed the third on a 12-2 run.

The spark? Argueta.

The senior came up with a steal before hitting a layup with 2:51 to play. A minute later, Argueta stole a pass before her layup cut the Pilots’ deficit to 32-30.

“(Argueta) is a multi-sport athlete,” Conejo said. “For her to come to this program and give what she gives us is tremendous. She’s selfless and a true competitor. What she brings to this team is so important. We’re more confident when she’s on the court.”

Banning began the postseason as favorites to win the title, but Argueta said the Pilots still showed the same hunger as last year before it won the Division III crown.

“Being the (number) one seed this year gave us a lot of pride,” Argueta said. “We were still hungry even though we weren’t the underdog.”

How two new books look at the lives of Paul McCartney and John Lennon