The St. Joseph Notre Dame (SJND) women’s basketball team defeated Arcata High, 90-47, to win the Div. IV North Coast Section (NCS) title Saturday, March 3, at Albany High.
SJND sophomore Malia Mastora scored a game-high 28 points to lead the Pilots over the Tigers. Mastora shot 12-for-17 from the field including 2-for-5 from the 3-point line. SJND also got strong efforts from sophomore Sophie Nilsson who scored 16 points, and junior Zhane Duckett who put up 11 points.

The Pilots defense smothered the Tigers throughout the contest. SJND racked up 23 steals including eight steals from Mastora. Nilsson had three of the team’s four blocks. 

The Pilots created a bit of distance between them and the Tigers after the first quarter. They ended the opening frame with a 22-14 lead. SJND put the game away, however, in the second quarter when the team outscored Arcata, 21-7. 

The Pilots’ 43-21 lead at halftime was too much for the Tigers to overcome. The Tigers played the Pilots nearly even in the third quarter, 20-19, but the dam broke in the fourth quarter when they were outscored again, 27-7.

This is the fourth NCS title for the Pilots women’s team. They beat Urban of San Francisco, 53-26, in NCS Div. V title game in 2016.They defeated International of San Francisco, 70-68, in the Div. II game in 2012 and Rincon Valley Christian of Santa Rosa, 53-29, in the Div. V game in 2011.

The team’s overall record is 27-4. The Pilots will now compete in the NorCal Div. I regional tournament. They are the third seed out of 16 teams. They took on McClatchy of Sacramento yesterday in the first round.

SJND Men’s Basketball
The SJND men’s team lost to St. Patrick/St. Vincent, 63-54, in the NCS Div. IV title game on March 3.

The Pilots led 43-41 entering the fourth quarter, but the Bruins outscored SJND, 22-11, in the final quarter to capture the title. The Pilots defeated Lick-Wilmerding of San Francisco, 61-37, in the semifinal Feb. 28. The loss prevented the Pilots from capturing their third straight NCS title. 
SJND is now 22-10 overall this season. They have qualified for the NorCal Div. II regional tournament as the six seed out of 16 teams. They faced Woodcreek in the first round yesterday.

Alameda Men’s Basketball
The Alameda High men’s basketball team lost to Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland, 60-48, in the NCS Div. II semifinals on Feb. 28. 
The Hornets are 24-5 overall and qualified for the NorCal Div. II regional tournament with the Pilots. The Hornets are the top seed out of 16 teams. The two teams could only face each other in the final. Alameda squared off against Oak Ridge of El Dorado Hills in the first round yesterday.