Girls basketball: San Domenico living up expectations in return to NorCal title game
The girls basketball team from the tiny school in San Anselmo isn’t taking anyone by surprise this season. San Domenico is building an impressive reputation as the Panthers are on the verge of clinching a second consecutive CIF State title berth.
The top-seeded Panthers (26-7) are scheduled to host No. 7 Menlo (18-10) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Dominican University in the Northern California Regional Division IV championship, the last step on the way to the State finals in Sacramento.
“Last year was a different team,” san Domenico head coach Mike Fulton said after Saturday’s 54-43 win over No. 13 Marysville in the NorCal semifinals. “Last year was a surprise, because we didn’t have a great record, but we got on a roll in time for the playoffs.”
The Panthers, with a talented sophomore-heavy roster, finished the 2021-22 season with a 24-11 record. After losing to the Branson School in the North Coast Section Division V championship, the Panthers took their game to another level for a run at the State title. After a win over Bay Counties West rival University in the NorCal finals, San Domenico stole the spotlight in Sacramento with a 38-27 victory over Shalhevet of Los Angeles in the State championship.
San Domenico graduated just two players from that squad, and the returning players started this season with a well-earned sense of pride. The Panthers went 10-0 to start their campaign, including a season-opening win over Branson.
“This team has been winning through adversity,” Fulton continued. “The girls played well and rallied even when Summer Jenkins was out with an injury. Now, we’re playing at a solid level.”
Jenkins, who has been playing her way into form, scored 11 points Saturday against Marysville as San Domenico had four players score in double figures for the first time this season. Senior Maja Cykowska led the Panthers with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Guard Lily Reeser added 13 points. Averey Conklin tallied an additional 11 points.
“We were fighting for every ball,” Fulton said. “At this point in the season, your point guard has to be playing at a high level and Reeser did just that. Our players controlled the ball and didn’t turn the ball over much under pressure.”
San Domenico led Saturday’s game wire-to-wire, and built a double-digit lead by halftime that never wavered.
“We played probably our best game of the season,” Fulton said. “We’re not intimidated in this environment.”
Menlo reached the NorCal final with a 51-48 victory over No. 6 Hillsdale on Saturday.
A sense of intrigue hangs over the playoffs, as the State finals could be a repeat of last year’s matchup, if the top seeds from both regions advance.
In the Southern California bracket, No. 1 Shalhevet is scheduled to face No. 3 Campbell Hall in Tuesday’s regional final.