The high school basketball season on the Island came to an end last Saturday, March 18, when the St. Joseph Notre Dame (SJND) women’s basketball team suffered a season-ending 70-30 loss to West Campus of Sacramento. The Pilots advanced all the way to the NorCal Div. IV championship game, but SJND could not keep up with the Warriors in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) regional title game.

The Pilots felt the wrath of the Warriors from the opening tip. SJND was held to just four points in the first quarter. The Warriors, on the other hand, had no resistance in the opening period and scored 22 points handily. 

The Pilots were never able to make the game competitive. SJND trailed 39-15 at the half. The Pilots’ 11-point second quarter was the only quarter in which they scored double figures. The Pilots gave up another 20-point quarter in the third frame. The Warriors led 60-22 at the end of three quarters.

The Pilots offense struggled throughout the contest. The team shot just 18 percent (8 of 44) from the field and 7 percent (1 of 14) from the 3-point line. Freshmen Sophie Nilsson and Malia Mastora led the team with six points each. 

SJND entered the tournament as the two seed, while West Campus was the one seed. The Warriors will play Los Osos in the championship match on Saturday, March 25, at the Golden 1 Arena in Sacramento. 

The Pilots advanced to the NorCal finals by winning three games in the tournament including a 69-59 victory over Sacred Heart Prep in the semifinal on March 14. The Pilots and Matadors traded big offensive quarters in first half. The Pilots led 23-11 at the end of the first quarter. The Matadors then outscored the Pilots 25-12 in the second quarter. 

SJND took control of the contest in the third period with another 20-point quarter. The Pilots won the third period 21-8. Sophomore Zhane Duckett led the team with 23 points.

The Pilots finished the season 29-6. They also went 12-0 in the Bay Counties East League and won the league tournament with a 63-22 victory over Head-Royce of Oakland on Feb. 18. 

It was the third time in school history the women’s team reached the NorCal finals. The team advanced to the NorCal regional final last year where they also were bounced from the tournament. 

Last year, the Pilots lost 65-59 to Eastside College Prep of East Palo Alto in the NorCal Div. V final. The Pilots moved up a division this season.