Hanford has too much for Garces in Div. II final
| Saturday, Mar 07 2009 02:19 AM
Last Updated Wednesday, Mar 25 2009 06:16 PM
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Garces' Caitlin Bernardin battles Hanford's Sarina Sayama (3) for a rebound in the second half of Friday's section championship game in Fresno.
FRESNO -- Garces High came into Friday's CIF Central Section Division II girls basketball title game with only one loss.
But the Rams hadn't seen any team like Hanford this season.
The Bullpups won their third section title this decade in dominating fashion. Hanford never trailed after scoring the game's first six points, and Garces trailed by double-digits the entire second half in a 73-44 Hanford victory at Selland Arena.
Garces (29-2) will advance into the Southern California playoffs and play on the road, likely Tuesday. The opponent and game date will be announced Sunday.
Hanford, ranked No. 8 in the state and No. 2 among Division II teams by Cal-Hi Sports, led 39-20 at halftime. Garces, which had a 25-game winning streak snapped, had a chance to make it close in the third quarter when Hanford made only 1-of-15 shots and had 10 turnovers in the quarter.
The Rams did close the gap -- pulling within 43-31 4:06 left, but the Rams had 13 turnovers in the quarter that cost them a chance to get closer.
"We gave them a run for their money," said Garces junior forward Sarah Allen, who led the Rams with 13 points. "They were just a better team."
Garces had 38 turnovers and struggled offensively, hitting only 34 percent of its shots (15-of-44).
Garces, the Division IV section champion a year ago, moved up two divisions. Hanford (25-4) has a win over Division I finalist Clovis West.
"They're by far the best team we've faced," said Garces coach Tod Denison. "They could easily be a Division I team. ... "I love playing them, to find out where we are."
Garces' turnovers and cold shooting were combined by a Hanford team that ran its offense with precision for most of the game.
The Bullpups worked the ball patiently against a zone defense Garces used at the start.
Hanford's ballhanders penetrated inside for good shots or passed to wide open teammates under the basket.
"They shredded our zone," Denison said. "We haven't played man all year long. I thought we played pretty well."
Denison added: "In the third quarter, I stressed to play the drive and give them the shot, and they weren't hitting. If you allow them to penetrate, they have good court sense and they find the open man."
Garces couldn't overcome a first half half when the Rams made only 8-of-23 shots and missed 10 shots closer than 10 feet from the basket, including five layups.
Caitlin Bernardin had 11 points and a team-high 10 rebounds for Garces. Hanford had 12 points from forward Courtney Rose, the only starter in double figures. But the Bullpups got 52 points from their reserves.
