Keeley Wright (15) of San Marin is chased by Lilly Grand (20) of Redwood during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Lailah Carey (21) of San Marin dribbles against Redwood during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Kitty White (30) of Redwood is defended by Lailah Carey (21) and Kate O'Hara (23) of San Marin during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Cassie Rees (20) of San Marin takes a shot while defended by Reese Bennett (3) of Redwood during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Keeley Wright (15) of San Marin attempts to hold off Molly Gallagher (5) of Redwood during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Kitty White (30) of Redwood looks to shoot against San Marin during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Rue Todd (11) of Redwood dribbles against Keeley Wright (15) of San Marin during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Rue Todd (11) of Redwood is defended by Selina Ruano (1) of San Marin during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Kate O'Hara (23) of San Marin fights for a loose ball against Kitty White (30) and Lilly Grand (20) of Redwood during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Lailah Carey (21) of San Marin drives past Kitty White (30) of Redwood during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Sammie Lim (12) of San Marin drives past Reese Bennett (3) of Redwood during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Selina Ruano (1) of San Marin passes the ball while defended by Lilly Grand (20) of Redwood during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Keeley Wright (15) of San Marin is defended by Maddie Sofnas (23) of Redwood during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Sammie Lim (12) of San Marin drives past Reese Bennett (3) of Redwood during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Cassie Rees (20) of San Marin goes up for a shot against Bella Hann (1) of Redwood during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Lailah Carey (21) of San Marin passes the ball against Redwood during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Selina Ruano (1) of San Marin drives past Ingrid Houtkooper (24) of Redwood during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Julie Martinez (4) of San Marin takes a shot against Redwood during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
San Marin head coach Tony Butler talks with Cassie Rees (20) of San Marin of Redwood during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Selina Ruano (1) of San Marin dribbles up court against Redwood during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Emma Tanaka (14) of Redwood passes the ball against San Marin during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood head coach Zach Borello coaches against San Marin during a MCAL girls basketball game at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California on January 19, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)
The San Marin High girls basketball team won its sixth consecutive MCAL game on Thursday night with a 47-32 victory at Redwood.
The scrappy affair served as the perfect barometer for both teams as they continue to inch closer to league playoff berths.
Second-place San Marin (16-4, 9-1 MCAL) passed its test playing in the tough confines at Redwood and handled the Giants’ size in the post with speed and tenacious rebounding.
The fourth-place Giants (12-7, 5-4) outscored the visiting Mustangs 12-11 in the final quarter to prove they belong in the playoff discussion and show they will be tough to put away in the postseason.
“We knew it would be a tight one — that Redwood is going to be a playoff team this year,” San Marin coach Tony Butler said. “I was proud of the girls, the way they managed the environment. This place is always a difficult place to play.”
With 10 seniors, the Mustangs’ experience and confidence lifted them to victory in a game that featured 20 fouls in the first half alone. San Marin senior Keeley Wright had a game-high 17 points and senior Lailah Carey added 11. When things got hairy due to foul trouble and shots that didn’t drop down low, senior Selina Ruano supplied calm on the perimeter to help the Mustangs maintain control.
Redwood was led in scoring by Rue Todd with 13 points. Freshman Kitty White had seven.
Wright helped the Mustangs pull away in the third quarter when she banked in a three-pointer with 5:32 left in the period for a 27-13 lead. Following a steal and a foul when she drove to the basket, Wright converted a pair of free throws to push the Mustangs’ lead to 29-13.
Todd and White fought till the end with five and four points, respectively, in the fourth quarter.
Baker says there is no way the Mustangs looked beyond Redwood to their matchup with first-place Marin Catholic next week. But the showdown is hard to ignore.
“As good as I think we are, we’re not a braggadocios kind of team,” said Baker. “We don’t walk around with a lot of swagger. We love the challenge of beating them but to be honest we’d rather beat them in February than beat them in January.”
Wright knows the Mustangs will have their hands full on Tuesday night when they host Marin Catholic, but she’s having too much fun to stress about it.
“A lot more of us are becoming confident with the ball,” Wright said. “It’s definitely been really fun — having fun and not getting hurt my senior year.”
Second-year Redwood coach Zach Borello was thrilled with how the Giants responded against the second-place Mustangs. The Giants also have key matchups next week to keep their playoff hopes alive.
“There are a lot of positive things to come from this,” said Borello. “If we did a couple more things, made a shot or two here, maybe got an easy one it was right there for the taking.”
The Giants missed Maya Saibel, who was out with a concussion. Saibel is averaging 12 points a game and the Giants are hopeful of getting her back in the lineup by Thursday when they host Archie Williams.
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