Juju Watkins puts Sierra Canyon back on top of the California high school girls basketball world

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sierra Canyon is on top of the California high school girls basketball world again. 

The Trailblazers' path to get there could not have been any harder, but they emerged on top with a dominant 85-61 victory over Archbishop Mitty on Saturday in the CIF Open Division State championship game.

They left no room for doubt in defeating the Northern Regional champion, taking a double-digit lead a little over halfway through the second quarter and never looking back.

"I'm just incredibly proud of this team, of this group, of how hard we fought," said Sierra Canyon coach Alicia Komaki.

"We knew our destiny at the end of the [section] championship. We're gonna get everybody on the road. We're going to go to La Jolla, face a tough San Diego team to start, we're going to go to Etiwanda again, and then we're gonna hopefully travel up to Sacramento. We're just so proud of how we bounced back from that loss."

In the span of only two weeks, the Trailblazers went from a particularly painful ending to the Southern Section playoffs on Feb. 26 to winning the CIF Open Division State championship. They led by 15 points just before halftime in the CIFSS title game, but Etiwanda came roaring back in the third quarter. The wheels came off at the end for Sierra Canyon when Juju Watkins fouled out with their lead down to three. They ended up losing by 12.

That loss to Etiwanda and a non-league loss in January to La Jolla Country Day are why Sierra Canyon's path to the top couldn't have been harder. In the Regional playoffs, the Trailblazers had to take on the only two teams that beat them - two section champions ranked inside the Top 10 in the country. And because those previous losses left them with the third seed, they had to do it on the road. And to finish the CIF State title run, they had to make another road trip to beat the red-hot top team in NorCal.

They did it, and they did it in style.

Watkins turned in one of the most unforgettable performances of her career, leading the game with 23 points, 19 rebounds, six assists, six blocks, and three steals. She put up those numbers despite having to sit nearly eight minutes of the game due to foul trouble. Maybe it was another night at the office for the Gatorade California Player of the Year, but it was her best performance yet on this stage of high school ball.

Mitty came out trapping and double-teaming Watkins from the opening tip, but she kept the ball moving much of the time, leading to one of the best performances of the season from her supporting cast. Four other Trailblazers scored a dozen or more points. That included Christy Reynoso, who erupted for 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting (4-of-4 from three). 

After Sierra Canyon took its first double-digit lead of the game, 30-20 with 3:37 left in the second quarter, it was back-to-back threes from Reynoso that broke the game open.

Mackenly Randolph had a 13-point double-double, and Izela Arenas and Leia Edwards had 12 points each.

While they struggled to keep the game competitive down the stretch, the Monarchs did have offensive bright spots. Makayla Moore led Archbishop Mitty with 14 points and nine rebounds. Morgan Cheli had 11 points and seven rebounds, and Siena Guttadauro scored 10 points. 

Despite the lopsided loss, Mitty still finished the season 30-2 with a Central Coast Section title, a Northern Region title, and status as the clear-cut best team in NorCal.

But this night belonged to Watkins and Sierra Canyon.

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