Whitney girls basketball blitzes Half Moon Bay early to claim first CIF state championship

Players and coaches from Whitney High school pose with the trophy after defeating Half Moon Bay 48-40 in a girls CIF State Division IV championship basketball game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) — Players and coaches from Whitney High School pose with the trophy after defeating Half Moon Bay 48-40 in a girls CIF State Division IV championship basketball game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

SACRAMENTO — A team that considers itself one of the hidden gems of the Southern California girls basketball scene stepped onto its biggest stage Saturday morning with a chance to make history.

Whitney seized its opportunity at the CIF State championships.

Behind a blistering start and tough rebounding, the undersized Wildcats captured their first state title in any sport by defeating Half Moon Bay 48-40 for an emotional victory in the Division IV final at Golden 1 Center.

Whitney Wildcats assistant coaches celebrate after the team defeated the Half Moon Bay Cougars 48-40 in a girls CIF State Division IV championship basketball game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

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As time expired, veteran assistant Wayne Muramatsu of Whitney held his fists high and hollered “We did it!” as the players rushed onto the court to celebrate the first state basketball title for the ABC Unified School District.

The secret was finally out on a program known for balancing under-the-radar play with high academics.

“We have been a hidden gem,” sixth-year Whitney coach Myron Jacobs said, “but we’ve been a decent team for actually the last five to six years. Whitney has always been around. We’re not a big school. We have a lot of girls up here who play volleyball, soccer.”

“We don’t take (transfers). It’s an academic school first, and the sports go second,” he added. “We’re not the biggest team but we play with a lot of heart. We play fast. We play discipline.”

Whitney (28-9) scored the first 10 points and never trailed in its first appearance in a state final.

Haylie Wang of Whitney helped seal the victory by driving from the top of the key past three defenders for a layup and 46-40 lead with about two minutes left in the fourth.

The versatile 5-foot-11 senior, who played in the post, point guard and guarded center Zoey Lemoge, had a team-high 17 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Sophomore Alyssa So added 15 points.

The 6-foot Lemoge finished with 18 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks for Half Moon Bay (23-8).

The Wildcats were slightly shorter than Half Moon Bay but signaled their intent to hit the offensive glass on the opening possession. Guard Rachel Moyher and forward Sarai Carter (nine rebounds, two blocks) grabbed offensive rebounds before Allie Yamaguchi sank a 3-pointer.

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“Too many times they got the offensive board and got a good look out of it,” said Half Moon Bay coach Megan Smith, whose Cougars outrebounded Whitney 34-32.

Yamaguchi (eight points) highlighted the third period by banking in a 3-pointer to narrowly beat the shot clock.

Alyssa So #11 of Whitney Wildcats drives to the basket past Makena Glynn #20 of Half Moon Bay Cougars in the second half of a girls CIF State Division IV championship basketball game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Whitney reached its first state final after capturing the 605 League, a group that some consider “sneaky good” with contenders such as Pioneer and Cerritos.

Whitney was placed in Division 3A for the CIF-SS playoffs, a lower division than Pioneer (Division 2A) and Cerritos (Division 3AA). The Wildcats lost in the semifinals to Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary 41-36 but avenged the loss in the regional final with a 47-42 win.

Whitney’s program is fed by multiple youth leagues in the tight-knit Cerritos area. But the school’s identity remains academics.

“Any of our athletics is considered to be a bunch of nerds,” Muramatsu said while fighting back tears. “But what you see here in front of you are students and true athletes.”

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