TORRANCE – Losing to North Torrance in the CIF-SS Division 3AA championship game had not settled well with El Dorado’s girls basketball team.
So when senior Danielle Rumary and the rest of the Golden Hawks found out that they might get another shot to play North Torrance, in the CIF Southern California Regionals, they started to thirst for redemption.
When the ball came Rumary’s way late in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s Division III semifinal, she knew what she had to do. She sank a 3-pointer with 2:31 remaining to put El Dorado in the lead for good, and the Golden Hawks defeated North Torrance, 51-45, at North High.
“I’ve always dreamed of shooting that (shot),” Rumary said. “I’ve never done that before.”
“It is probably the sweetest revenge ever.”
El Dorado lost to North Torrance, 50-49, in overtime in the Division 3AA final on March 7.
The Golden Hawks (27-8) will face top-seeded Brea Olinda in the Southern California regional final on Saturday at Colony High of Ontario. The tip is at 6 p.m.
El Dorado got off to a good start Tuesday thanks to the determined efforts of Brooke Salas. The New Mexico State commit scored 18 first-half points.
“It was really important to set the tone,” said Salas, who finished with a game-high 24 points. “As a leader of the team, I think it’s important to bring energy so that the rest of the team can follow.”
Six 3-pointers from the Saxons (29-3) kept El Dorado from gaining separation. The Golden Hawks led, 26-23, at halftime.
North Torrance rode a wave of emotion from its sellout crowd to start the third. Cheridan Mataalii scored nine points in the quarter, sending the Saxons to a 32-29 edge midway through the period.
Jaylin Jones (20 points, 11 rebounds) put the Golden Hawks back in front, scoring six straight points that helped her team to a 38-34 advantage going into the fourth.
The Saxons tied it at 42 with 3:13 remaining before Rumary’s clutch shot.
“Danielle hit two big shots,” El Dorado coach Wayne Carlson said. “She’s been a solid player for three years. I’m really happy for her.”
