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Lady Badgers take eighth straight title

Mike Hackworth

(Updated: Thursday, February 25, 2010, 1:25 PM)

The Yosemite High School girls basketball team's regular season finale at Kerman was anticlimactic with the Lady Badgers rolling 74-30. The win was its 68th consecutive league victory and eighth consecutive league title.

Yosemite jumped out to a 30-8 first-quarter lead and, for the most part, said good evening to its starters. The Badgers bench accounted for 23 of the team's total points. Yosemite controlled the tempo from start to finish, playing ball control, driving the lanes and shooting from the paint -- taking 39 shots from the perimeter connecting on a dozen 3-pointers.

The Lady Badgers were led by junior Sydnee Fipps with her 18th double-double on the season (38 in three seasons). Fipps scored 28 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in less than two quarters, Sienna Gonzales scored 10 points and point guard Jenay Herring scored seven points, but picked up 10 assists in limited play. Ariana Amaro had eight points to lead the Lions with Bryana Head and Nicole Partnoff, scoring six points each. With the win Friday against Kerman, the Badgers earned Gary Blate his 190th career victory as the Yosemite girls head coach.

Yosemite 83, Chowchilla 34

Three Lady Badgers scored in double figures in Yosemite's 83-34 win in Chowchilla Tuesday night. Sydnee Fipps scored 29 points, while Jenay Herring, finishing with a double-double, having scored 12 points and added 13 assists. Sienna Gonzales scored 14 points in less than two quarters.

From the Bench - Playoff Preview

The Lady Badgers enter the Central Section Division II playoffs as the No. 2 seed having earned a bye in the first round slated to start yesterday. No. 7, El Diamante, and No. 10, Sanger, played at El Diamante Wednesday and the winner will meet the Lady Badgers on Friday, Feb. 26 in the Baker Gym. Game time is 7 p.m.

"The only real goal we can set right now is with the intention of eventually playing in the finals at Selland Arena," Blate said. "We won't get caught looking ahead."

No. 7 seed

If El Diamante Miners win, the Lady Badgers will meet a team that finished the regular season 12-12 overall and 5-7 in the West Yosemite League. The team averaged 38.4 points per game and allowed 42 points per game.

No. 10 seed

If the Sanger Apaches win, the Lady Badgers will meet a team that finished 13-11 overall and 6-3 in the Country/Metro League. The Apaches averaged 46 points per game and allowed 43.2 points per game.

Just so you know, Hanford High School girls team currently leads the Nation in 3-point baskets made (318) and in 3-point baskets per game (11.0).

The Yosemite High School girls team is ranked second nationally in 3-point baskets made (263) and second in 3-point baskets per game (9.1).

What an aerial game that could be, if the two teams meet.