This season, the goal for the Saugus Centurions was to make memories. In addition to that, they’re making history.
With a 60-59 win in the Division 2 California Interscholastic Federation SoCal regional state playoffs over the Grossmont Foothillers of EL Cajon, the Centurions won the girls basketball program’s second-ever state playoff game and set a mark for most wins in a single season with 26.
“All this little history making, I didn’t know any of this going into the season,” Saugus head coach Anthony Falasca said. “We talked at the beginning of the season about making memories, and every game, they take pictures, but being able to stay and extend your season just off absolute willpower and competitiveness and passion. That goes a long way, and heart to me beats talent.”
Leading up to the game’s fourth quarter, the Centurions and Foothillers dueled back and forth, neither able to pull away for a large lead.
Going into the fourth quarter, the Centurions held a 48-41 lead but when the final frame began, the Foothillers stormed back and outscored Saugus 18-12.
The Centurions held on to their slim lead and Falasca said that what won them the game was experience.
“We’ve done this for a long, long time, and I think the experience from a coaching staff and the experience from four-year varsity players really helped in this situation,” he said.
The Centurions were led in scoring by Jasmine Garcia, who recorded 18 points on 6-for-11 shooting.
Falasca said that although she didn’t lead the team in points scored, one of the biggest performances came from Brianna Burroughs, who had 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting.
He added that what Burroughs did in the win won’t appear on the stat sheet but was giving it her full effort all game and won the 50-50 balls over Grossmont’s defense.
Burroughs finished the night with 12 rebounds and ended the day with the double-double.
With the win, the Centurions advanced to the program’s first-ever appearance in the SoCal regional semifinals.
The Centurions are set to go on the road for the first time in the state playoffs and match up with the Birmingham Patriots of Lake Balboa.
The Patriots and Centurions have already matched up earlier this season in January, with Saugus taking the victory over Birmingham, 57-52.
Falasca said that in the first matchup, he didn’t watch any film on the team and just went to go play, but for Saturday’s game, the team will prepare as if they’re a new opponent they’ve never seen before and study on the best way to beat them.
“We haven’t talked about the fact that we beat them yet. New game, new team,” he said. “This time, I got plenty of tape and we know exactly what they need to do and what they need to run. We’re going to have the girls prepared.”
The matchup between the Centurions and Patriots is scheduled for Saturday with a 5 p.m. tipoff at Birmingham High School.
