Lily Reeser leads San Domenico over Shalhevet in CIF State Division V girls basketball championship

San Domenico wins the first of 12 state championship games taking place Friday and Saturday at the Golden 1 Center

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - San Domenico became the first CIF State champion of the 2021-22 California high school basketball season on Friday, beating Shalhevet 38-27 in the Division V girls basketball title game at the Golden 1 Center. 

Lily Reeser totaled 12 points and three steals for San Domenico as they won their first girls basketball state championship in school history.

The Panthers got off to a slow start offensively, missing open looks throughout the first half, and they trailed 14-11 at halftime. But they came out with renewed energy to start the third quarter and started knocking down jumpers from both mid-range and beyond the three-point arc. San Domenico led 24-21 going into the fourth quarter and finished the game on a 9-0 run to win by the largest score differential of the game.

Shalhevet was hurt by the loss of sophomore forward Yalee Schwartz, who suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter and didn't return. Schwartz came into the game as the Firehawks' leading scorer, and also would have provided much-needed size against a very large San Domenico frontcourt. 

Talia Tizabi had nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds for Shalhevet, but the Firehawks struggled to both generate and convert clean looks from the field all game. They also struggled at the free throw line, going 6-for-19, but they didn't stop battling until the end.

"I think the big stadium got to us a little bit, evidenced by our nerves in the first quarter, fouling," said San Domenico head coach Mike Fulton.

"[Shalhevet] missed a lot of free throws, but I want to give credit to them – their best player got injured early in the game, and they kept fighting back. Very disciplined team."

Three of San Domenico's starters were sophomores, including Reeser, as were its two leaders in minutes off the bench.

"This team, I did not think would do this this year," Fulton said.

"I thought maybe when they were juniors and seniors they'd have a chance, but what you're seeing is a team mature right in front of you."

Despite the sophomore theme, San Domenico's seniors made their presences felt. Forward Noku Mukukula had seven points and six rebounds for the Panthers. Point guard Piper Fleece only finished with six points and three assists, but her playmaking and disruptive perimeter defensive provided them a consistent engine.

While the game came down to the final minute or so, Fulton said he could tell the win was in their hands with 3:26 left in the game, when Summer Jenkins stole the ball around half-court and turned it into an and-one.

"This was probably my most fun with a team," said Fulton.

PHOTO GALLERY

(All photos by Dennis Lee)

Photo by Dennis Lee