The journey to a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division III title ended after four months for the Encinal High School women’s basketball team before it could reach its desired destination.

The Lady Jets’ season ended with a 58-54 loss against Vanden of Fairfield in the CIF Division III Northern regional quarterfinals last Saturday, March 15, on its home court.

Neither team led by more than a point at the end of any one of the first three quarters. The Vikings were able to pull away in the fourth quarter due to the performance of sophomore Kiana Moore in the period. Moore scored nine of her 15 points in the final period on three, three-point baskets. Her last three-pointer gave the Vikings a 57-51 lead with less than two minutes remaining and Vanden never relinquished its lead from there.

Brianne Taylor led the Jets with 17 points. Sophomores Destiny Kelly and Caprice Taylor added 15 and 13 points, respectively. The Jets ended its season with a 21-8 overall record.
The Jets experienced a major milestone this season. They made it to their first North Coast Section title game on March 8. They lost to Miramonte in the final. Their play in the regular season earned them a three-seed and an opening-round bye in the Northern California regional playoffs. Vanden went on to play Modesto Christian in the CIF northern semifinals on Tuesday, March 18.