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Kennedy’s girls basketball team continued to show its growth with freshman Ta’Niya Paul on Tuesday during a challenging Division IV first-round game in the CIF Southern California Regional.
Coming off their first CIF Southern Section title, the No. 12 seeded Fighting Irish played at No. 5 Palisades Charter, an Open Division qualifier in the LA City Section that hadn’t played since Feb. 12.
Kennedy proved ready for the test but lost 61-59 despite 33 points, 19 rebounds, three blocks and four assists from Paul.
The Fighting Irish players, who claimed the CIF-SS Division 7 championship on Saturday, received a standing ovation from their fans leaving the court.
“It’s been tremendous how the team has grown,” seventh-year Kennedy coach Nori Nishida said. “Early on in the season, we went through a (five)-game losing streak. (The season) could have gone the exact opposite way but they stuck with it. They persevered, and we had the support of the families, too.”
The Fighting Irish (20-13) led 34-23 at intermission as Megan Duong made her second buzzer-beating 3-pointer of the half.
In the third quarter, Palisades erupted for 27 points, including four 3-pointers, to push Kennedy into pursuit.
Trailing by 11 points going into the fourth period, Kennedy trimmed its deficit to three points several times in the quarter but couldn’t catch Palisades, whose students recently returned to campus after being displaced by fires in January 2025.
Kennedy’s Alyssa Lacorte sank a half-court shot at the final buzzer.
“Everyone played their hearts out. We came here to win,” Paul said. “I’m very proud of what we did (this season). Very happy to be part of this moment.”
Guard Elly Tierney scored 18 of her 26 points in the second half to help rally Palisades (13-13).
The Dolphins made 3 of 17 3-pointers in the first half but sank their first three in the third period to finish 4 for 9 in the frame.
Palisades’s Olivia Lewis sank a pair of 3-pointers in the third and blocked a breakaway layup with 49 seconds left in regulation to preserve a 56-53 lead.
Paul made 11 of 15 shots from the floor, including a 3-pointer with about six seconds left to cut Palisades’ lead to 59-56.
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“She’s a good player,” Palisades coach LeBre Merritt said of Paul. “For her being a freshman is highly impressive. Based off all the film I watched in last couple days, she’s the one who does everything for the team.”
Palisades plays host to Hillcrest on Thursday in the second round.
In other Division IV games:
Savanna 53, El Camino Real 39: Dyanna Cruz scored 16 points with 10 rebounds and five steals to lead the host Rebels, who play at top-seeded Marina on Thursday. Marina edged Escondido 57-55.
Marina 57, Escondido 55: Rylee Bradley scored 32 points to lead the Vikings into Thursday’s second round.
Godinez 57, Burroughs 38: Valeria Arcos scored 17 points and Valerie Esteban added 15 points to lead the host No. 2 Grizzlies, who host Oakwood on Thursday.
In Division I:
Mater Dei 66, Windward 44: The top-seeded Monarchs won without coach Jody Wynn (one-game suspension) and advanced to host La Salle on Thursday. La Salle captured the CIF-SS Division 1 title. Harmony Golightly scored 17 points and Stella Hoss added 15 points for Mater Dei.
JSerra 54, Mission Hills 51: Vivian Grenald converted a game-winning, three-point play with about 35 seconds left as the Lions rallied from an 11-point deficit late in the third quarter to advance to Thursday’s second round at Rancho Christian.
Grenald finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds while Rosie Santos added 17 points and three blocks.
In Division II:
St. Margaret’s 50, Mater Dei Catholic of Chula Vista 36: Freshman Jayden Witten scored 16 points and point guard Taylor Francois added 10 points to lead the visiting Tartans past the reigning Division IV regional champion. In Round 2, St. Margaret’s will play at St. Joseph of Lakewood on Thursday.
Rosary 58, Victory Christian 47: Kate Duarte scored 12 points with seven rebounds and Izzy Holmes had a 11 points and 12 assists to pace the host Royals, who play at Crescenta Valley on Thursday. Crescenta Valley edged Rosary 45-44 in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals.
In Division III:
Canyon 60, Oxnard 57: Kyara Vargas scored 21 points with 11 rebounds to lead the visiting No. 11 Comanches, who play at third-seeded Carlsbad on Thursday.
El Dorado 45, Montgomery 43: Riley Morikawa scored 15 points with nine rebounds to lead the Golden Hawks, who play host to La Canada on Thursday. El Dorado beat La Canada for the CIF-SS Division 4 title.
In Division V:
Laguna Hills 48, Banning 24: Freshman Keira McDermott scored 19 points and her sister Cameron McDermott had 15 points, 14 rebounds and eight steals to lead the host Hawks. No. 4 Laguna Hills play host to No. 5 Foothill of Bakersfield on Thursday.
Orange 51, Washington Prep 47: Anessa Salinas scored 16 points and Aubrey Macedo added 15 points to lead the No. 10 and visiting Panthers past the Division III champion from the LA City Section. Orange plays at Vista on Thursday.
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