Sweet redemption!
A season ago, Miramonte left the NCS Division III championship game on the wrong side of a blowout loss.
The Matadors certainly did not want to relive that feeling and after just a few minutes of play, it was clear the 2014 NCS final would have a different result. The Matadors ultimately routed Encinal 94-42.
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"So excited," Breanna Alford, who finished with 21 points, said. "It took us four years and now we are champs."
The Matadors turned the ball over on two of their first three possessions, but senior guard Megan Reid restored order and jumpstarted the lead to 12-2 with four quick points.
And from there, the rout was one.
"We were just moving the ball, working as a team and working together," Alford said.
While the Jets made some plays late in the second quarter, it was not enough to get within striking distance as they trailed 58-24 at the half.
Encinal was at a disadvantage from the onset as they only dressed nine players. The Matadors run an extremely up-tempo offense and it was clear from the very beginning that the Jets were going to have a hard time keeping up with the pace.
Reid, Alford and Sabrina Ionescu all posted double digit games for the Matadors, but it was a complete team effort as 11 players put points on the board.
Cougars run away with title
With an up-tempo offense and a stifling defense, Carondelet topped Clayton Valley Charter 100-48 to win the girls Division II NCS championship.
The Cougars have played at a fast pace all season, but when the ball was tipped the Eagles were unable to handle it.
Carondelet scored the first seven points of the game, started on a 17-2 run and ultimately ran away with the game before Clayton Valley Charter even had a chance to compete.
"It's amazing," Carondelet junior Christina Chenault said. "I'm so grateful to play with this group of seniors. I had a feeling this was going to be a good year, I knew it was going to be a good year, and now we are here."
Chenault led the Cougars with 22 points and Nebraska bound senior Natalie Romeo added 21 points of her own.
Although a championship was on the line, Chenault kept her emotions in check and that led to the offensive outburst.
"I just tried to keep my composure," Chenault said. "I just tried to thing like it was a regular game and not get too nervous. I just had fun."
The Eagles offense struggled with errant passes and turnovers against the Cougars press. Although the Eagles established a bit of offensive rhythm to start the second half, it was too little too late.
Carondelet has now won 13 straight games and the Cougars hope they can keep on winning as a state championship is now within reach.