SUNSET GIRLS: Gaels roll Aggies to set up annual date with Centennial

The looks on the faces of Bishop Gorman’s girls basketball players Thursday weren’t those one would expect of a team that had just won by 18 points.

The Gaels, though pleased to advance to the Sunset Region title game, were less than satisfied with their performance.

Still, Gorman pushed, rebounded and defended its way to a 49-31 win over host Arbor View in the Sunset semifinals. The Gaels (22-4) will face Centennial (28-2) for the 13th consecutive time in a Sunset final at 5 p.m. Friday at Arbor View.

“We didn’t play well,” Gorman coach Sheryl Krmpotich said. “I don’t know if it’s the lights and the popcorn popping. I wish I had the magical power to change that. Sometimes we get the deer in the headlights look.”

Gorman looked sharp during a 17-0 run in the first half that decided the game.

The Gaels held Arbor View (19-10) to 0-for-11 shooting with six turnovers, while turning an 8-7 first-quarter deficit into a 24-8 lead with 3:14 left in the second quarter.

“We tried to disrupt their rhythm,” Krmpotich said. “We tried to get them out of their flow.”

But Gorman finished the night just 16 of 44 from the field (36.4 percent) and committed 17 turnovers.

Madison Washington carried Gorman for much of the first three quarters, racking up 14 points and 15 rebounds in that time.

“She could have 20 (rebounds),” Krmpotich said. “She’s like the Energizer bunny. She keeps going and going.”

Raychel Stanley added 14 points for Gorman, which hopes to end a streak of four straight losses to Centennial in the region final.

“It’s like Centennial 80,000, Gorman 2,” Krmpotich said. “They beat us every time. We have to fix that.”

Ariona Gill had 10 points for Arbor View, which made just 14 of 58 (24.1 percent) shots from the field.

Centennial 74, Cimarron-Memorial 28 — Tanjanae Wells scored 11 of her 14 points in the first quarter, helping the Bulldogs build a quick 35-5 lead and rout the Spartans.

Wells, who hit six 3-pointers and had 20 points in the first half of the Bulldogs’ quarterfinal win over Durango on Wednesday, went 4-for-5 on 3-pointers and 5-for-6 from the field Thursday.

“What she’s doing does not surprise me whatsoever,” Centennial coach Karen Weitz said. “When Tanjanae puts her mind to something, she is a pretty good ball player. She’s right where she needs to be. She is focused.”

Justice Ethridge added 14 points, and Karina Brandon scored 12 for Centennial, which led 17-2 less than three minutes into the game and sat its starters for all of the second and fourth quarters.

“Sometimes we don’t get off to good starts, and it’s now or never right now,” Weitz said. “You have to be ready to play from the get-go.”

Zaquae Downton had 12 points to lead Cimarron (13-15).