Orange Lutheran girls basketball takes down Marlborough for second straight CIFSS title: 5 takeaways

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Lancers are back-to-back champions, and in convincing fashion.

After an even first quarter, Orange Lutheran steadily grew a lead and eventually cruised in a 63-45 win against Marlborough. Following last year's CIFSS 2-AA title run, OLu's decisive victory at Honda Center was good for a Division 1 title, making it one of only two teams in the section to repeat as champion. Shea Joko led the game with 17 points for Lutheran.

Here are five takeaways from the game:

1. OLU'S ZONE DEFENSE CHANGES THE GAME

In what was touted to be an even battle, the first quarter lived up to expectations. Orange Lutheran and Marlborough traded blows as the opening frame finished at a 17-17 tie. From there on out, the Lancers progressively took control, and they never relinquished it.

OLu held the Mustangs to fewer points in the second and third quarters combined than in the first one, leading 30-25 at halftime and 44-33 after three. The biggest difference? Getting more aggressive on the perimeter in its zone defense. 

From the start of the second quarter onward, Marlborough struggled to take care of the ball and maintain any fluidity against the quicker Lancers' pressure on both the ball and passing lanes. The Mustangs were only charged with 13 turnovers on Saturday, but Orange Lutheran's disruptive zone defense, which extended further and further throughout the game, was the story. 

The box score – 16-55 from the field, 7-31 from three – doesn't reflect that Marlborough shot the ball reasonably well when it was able to withstand OLu's perimeter pressure. That's because Marlborough was forced into so many tough shots late, or sometimes early, in the clock. 

2. LANCERS' EXPERIENCE SHOWS

Orange Lutheran sure looked the part of a reigning upper-division CIFSS champion on Saturday. Not just in its talent level, but in its wherewithal. The Lancers consistently find a way to maintain a high energy level while remaining grounded. Marlborough came ready to play, but the nerves were evident, especially when momentum was going the other way. 

It's very rare to see the Mustangs get sped up, and it appeared the gravity of the stage and situation got to them a little bit. Not so much out of the gate, but more during stretches where OLu was gaining momentum and turning up its intensity.

3. A TOUGH HILL TO CLIMB

Despite the loss, towering center Autumn Hill had a block party for the Mustangs, totaling 8 blocks. Simply put, she's one of the best shot-blockers in the section, because of both her 6-3.5 frame and also her natural awareness and timing.

As Lutheran relies on its triumvirate of post players – Heaven Johnson, Sheridan Kennedy, and Taliyah McFerson – to score inside and physically set the tone, a Mustangs squad with superior length could've been a bad matchup. But OLu doesn't just isolate its paint-oriented forwards on the block and hope for the best – it excels in burning opposing bigs in high pick-and-rolls, secondary breaks/early offense, and any other half-court action that creates mismatches. 

While Hill turned away a litany of shots, the Lancers continued attacking the paint on their terms, owning Marlborough in points in the paint (24-10) and second chance points (19-1). They didn't let blocked shots intimidate them, and by continuing to attack they eventually tired Marlborough's frontcourt players out a bit.

4. LANCERS' DEPTH AGAIN PROVES PIVOTAL

While Orange Lutheran doesn't have a long list of names it routinely goes to off the bench, it's deep in that its two key bench players play as many minutes as the starters and can close games, truly functioning as sixth and seventh men.

Princess Cassell notched a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) in under 17 minutes of action, and Sheridan Kennedy added 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals in 19 minutes. The Lancers have the luxury of three skilled bruisers in Johnson, Kennedy, and McFerson, and they can maintain floor spacing even with two of them on the floor at the same time. 

OLu is a physical team to begin with, and with its bigs able to give their all and then get all the rest they need, they can wear teams out throughout a game like few others. Perhaps that formula is a big reason that the Lancers have peaked in the playoffs for the second straight year.

5. RUN IT BACK... AGAIN

Johnson and Madison Bogan, who contributed 9 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals, will be gone next season. However, despite losing two impact starters, the Lancers' core will remain fairly intact for the third season in a row. OLu projects as a D-1 contender looking ahead to 2023-24 as well, and that means a three-peat could very well be in the cards.

Before that, however, the Lancers still have regional/state playoffs to look forward to. Last year, their season ended much sooner than expected as they were knocked off in their regional opener against Brentwood School. This time around, expect them to come out with something to prove even with another section title already in hand.

Speaking of running it back, Marlborough qualified for regionals too, and it has a chance to get back in the saddle right away. The Mustangs found another gear when the postseason started, and whether they were flat or nervous on Saturday – in addition to being tasked with beating a great Lancers team – they have another gear from what they showed. If they can prove that this game doesn't have to be the end of their run, they could go far in Southern Region Division I – and maybe earn a chance at revenge against OLu.