Skip to content
Associate mug of Kenny Connolly, Anaheim reporter.

Date shot: 12/31/2012 . Photo by KATE LUCAS /  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The Register’s preview of the CIF State basketball championship game Saturday in Sacramento.

GIRLS BASKETBALL CIF STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

DIVISION II

MATER DEI (24-8) vs. VANDEN OF FAIRFIELD (30-5)

Where, when: at Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, Saturday, 2 p.m.

Live coverage: Spectrum SportsNet; www.myspectrumsports.com/2017CIFBBChampionships (live stream)

Outlook: The Monarchs are in search of their first state championship since 2012, and while this might not be Coach Kevin Kiernan’s most talented Mater Dei club, this group is currently playing as well together as any team he has had in the past. In Mater Dei’s regional final win over Orangewood Academy, Cydni Lewis continued to make the most of her increased post touches, scoring a game-high 15 points. Nicole Freeman and Sarah Rahon added 11 points apiece in the regional final. If Rahon in particular can knock down a few shots from beyond the 3-point arc, Mater Dei’s offensive game markedly elevates. The matchup will feature two of the best guards in the state – Mater Dei’s Jayda Adams (Duke) and Vanden’s Julia Blackshell-Fair (Houston). Blackshell-Fair is coming off a 25-point, 12-rebound performance in the Northern California Regional final. She can exploit opposing defenses with her mid-range game and ability to attack and finish in the lane. Adams can score from anywhere on the floor, but proved to be most effective when driving the lane against Orangewood Academy. With both teams thriving off pressure-based defenses, the squad that limits the mistakes will have a major edge in a contest that should be fairly low scoring.