St. Mary's tops No. 1 seed Folsom for Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 girls championship
It was a record 22nd Sac-Joaquin Section championship for the St. Mary's Rams girls basketball team Wednesday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
Remarkably though, it was a first for McDonald's All-American Jordan Lee.
The 6-foot senior who is headed to the University of Texas didn't have her best shooting night (5 of 18) — few did — but she had 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in a 57-51 SJD Division 1 victory over top-seeded Folsom, the team that defeated the Rams last year.
St. Mary's freshman Kori Rogers glides in for two of her game-high 21 points.
Photo: Ralph Thompson
Lee had plenty of help from freshman Kori Rogers, who had a game-high 21 points with six rebounds and had four of her team's nine 3-pointers. Both teams are 25-5 heading into next week's Northern California Regional when both will likely be placed in the Open Division.
Who knows, they might face off again. Folsom came into the game ranked fifth in the state by SBLive, St. Mary's was No. 10.
"It's a familiar opponent, we had to step up and make the 50-50 plays," Lee told the NFHS Network. "(Rogers) is an absolute dog. I've never played with anyone who plays any harder than her and all that hard work paid off in a very physical game."
Folsom couldn't overcome cold shooting, making just 15 of 54 from the field. Ella Uriate was the only Bulldog with a hot hand, scoring 21 points and adding four steals. Dixie McClanahan added 12 points and six rebounds, but 6-foot-1 Cal commit Kamryn Mafua finished with just four points, but added a game-high 13 rebounds.
Much of the defense on her was supplied by Lee, whose team was upset in each of the previous two seasons. Her freshman year was thwarted by COVID.
Both teams thwarted each other with tenacious defense which led to the cold shooting. St. Mary's made on 18 of 57 shots themself, but outscored Folsom 27-18 on 3-pointers, which essentially decided the game.
(See play-by-play at the bottom fo the page)
(Photos below by Ralph Thompson)
St. Mary's defense played tough against Cal-bound post Kamryn Mufua.
St. Mary's senior Emani King swoops in for two.
Folsom coach Lynn Woking draws up a play for the Bulldogs.
Division 1 girls: (6 p.m.)
No. 1 Folsom (25-4) vs. No. 2 St. Mary's (24-5) on NFHS
Fourth quarter
- St. Mary's 57, Folsom 51 (final): Rogers 21, Lee 20. First SJS title for McDonald's AA Lee.
- SM 51, Folsom 42 (5:04): Folsom junior Mindermann with a 3 gets deficit inside double digits.
- St. Mary's 49, Folsom 36: Three 3s in succession by SM's Lee and Rogers and one by Folsom's Uriate.
- St. Mary's 44, Folsom 33 (4:22): Mia Warren free throw (SM already in the bonus).
- St. Mary's 41, Folsom 33 (5:27): Ella Uriarte with a 3 closes Folsom gap to eight.
Third quarter
- St. Mary's 38, Folsom 26 (end of 3): It's like these teams have played each other weekly. Very well defended.
- St. Mary's 34, Folsom 26: Rogers with five more quick points, she's up to 16 points. Lee still cold. If she heats up, Folsom really in trouble.
Second quarter
- St. Mary's 24, Folsom 19 (halftime): Yet another 5-0 run, this won all by Folsom's Ella Uriarte. St. Mary's living by the 3 with six of them. Not usually a recipe for success.
- St. Mary's 24, Folsom 14 (1:01): And now the Rams answer with 5-0 run finished off by a Rogers fastbreak hoop.
- St. Mary's 19, Folsom 14: After St. Mary's started the quarter with 6-0 run, Folsom responds with six-point run.
First quarter
- St. Mary's 13, Folsom 8 (end of 1): Theresa Gotico with another triple for St. Mary's. McDonald's AA Jordan Lee with just two points, but SM leads after 1Q.
- St. Mary's 10, Folsom 8 (1:13): Kori Rogers with her second 3-pointer gives Rams the lead.
- Folsom 8, St. Mary's 7 (3:16): Both teams appear nervous or too amped. Missed layups and turnovers prevail. Also stellar defense.
