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LADERA RANCH — Sage Hill’s new wave of basketball talent collided with Buena Park’s established group Friday at the Girls California Live showcase.
The new kids on the hardwood prevailed at Ladera Sports Center.
Freshman wing Addison Uphoff scored a team-high 17 points off the bench, first-year starting wing Kamdyn Klamberg posted all 14 of her points in the second half and returning point guard Amalia Holguin netted16 points as the Lightning rallied for a 64-59 victory against the Coyotes in the semifinals of the ABT bracket.
Freshmen post Eve Fowler chipped in three blocks and six rebounds as she closed the game with Holguin, Uphoff, Klamberg and Northwood transfer Isabella Rose.
“We’ve came this far, we might as well win this thing,” said Fowler, whose team faces Brentwood in Saturday’s 3 p.m. final. “I’m so excited. This team is so just awesome. We’re all nice to each other. We warmup together. We’re always together. Bench energy as always (is high). Passing. We can shoot.”
Sage Hill trailed 31-25 at halftime but scored the first seven points of the second half to take its first lead. Klamberg scored the first five points, including a 3-pointer, and Alyssa Cuff added the go-ahead basket.
The teams were tied 42-42 when Uphoff took a rebound and raced the length of the court to complete a three-point play off a drive.
Moments later, Uphoff grabbed a steal and sank two foul shots to push the lead to 47-42.
Holguin capped the surge with a steal and a behind-the-back assist to Klamberg on a 2-on-1 breakaway.
Be careful around @Amalia251424 @sagehillgbb PG will pick your pocket and go around the back @GirlsCaliLive24 pic.twitter.com/GoP1w30vGr
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) June 15, 2024
“We worked really good as a team together communicating, working on a press that we haven’t gone through a lot,” said Klamberg, who also grabbed seven rebounds. “Overall, I think we had a really great game.”
Uphoff’s production helped Sage Hill’s bench outscore Buena Park’s bench 26-9. She also recorded three blocks, including one in the closing seconds.
“I’m a team player,” Uphoff said. “I feed off my team’s energy and my team feeds off my energy as well.”
Holguin sank four of the Lightning’s seven 3-pointers and added four steals and four assists,
Buena Park, which returns most of its core from a Freeway League championship team, led by as many as nine points late in the first half.
The Coyotes almost recovered after Holguin’s highlight steal and assist by playing hard to the end.
Junior forward Alana White scored a game-high 22 points and added nine rebounds. Senior Gloria Barerra had 16 points and nine rebounds and senior Mya Barnes added 10 points, two blocks and three steals.
“We had it,” Buena Park coach DeAnthony Wiley said. “Credit to them. That’s an Open team.”
Buena Park will play Windward in the third-place game Saturday at 3 p.m.
Note: All-County point guard Micaela Hanning of Calvary Chapel has enrolled at Crean Lutheran, new Saints coach Kyle Rouse confirmed Friday.
Day 1 coverage/notes: New-look Sage Hill wins twice
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