Caruthers wins second girls state basketball champion, knocks off Granada Hills Charter: Live update recap

Too much guard play from Emmi Almeida and Gizelle Aguirre lifts the Raiders to hard-earned win over Highlanders in California Division 3 girls basketball state championship game

SACRAMENTO — A pair of quick and athletic guards, Emmi Almeida and Gizelle Aguirre led the Caruthers Raiders to their second state championship in five years with a hard-earned 54-48 win over Granada Hills Charter Friday at Golden 1 Center. 

Almeida, a 5-foot-8 sophomore, had 21 points nine rebounds and six assists and Aguirre, a 5-6 senior added 14 points and seven rebounds. 

Karma Paez had 15 points, Gabriella Arellano 11 and Britia Bulotaite added 11 for Granada Hills Charter (21-12).

Caruthers (25-8) won its second tile, the first coming in 2019 in Division 5. 

Emmi Almeida leads Caruthers to Division 3 State title over Granada Hills Charter: 5 takeaways

PREGAME: 

The 2024 California (CIF) boys and girls high school basketball state championships have arrived. All 12 state championship games will be played at Golden 1 Center, the home of the Sacramento Kings.

The CIF State championship games continue Friday at 2 p.m. with the Division V boys basketball matchup between Granada Hills Charter and Caruthers. 

You can follow live updates of Granada Hills Charter vs. Caruthers on SBLive, including real-time score updates, game highlights and much more. You can also watch the game live on the NFHS Network.

(Refresh for the latest updates)

4TH QUARTER UPDATES: 

Caruthers 52, Granada Hills Charter 46 (final): The Blue Raiders from the Central Section win their second state title in five years. 

3RD QUARTER UPDATES: 

Caruthers 47, Granada Hills 34 (end of 3): Almeida is up to 16 points, Aguirre 13. Arrelano leads Granada Hills with 11. 

Caruthers 43, GHC 32 (2:53): GHC closed to 33-32, when Caruthers goes on 10-0 run, keyed by Emmi Almeida, who drills a 3, makes an old-fashion 3-point play and another midrange bucket. 

2ND QUARTER UPDATES: 

Caruthers 29, Granada Hills Charter 24 (halftime): Gizell Aguirre with 10 points and five rebounds for the Blue Raiders, who have made 13 of 27 shots, a very respectable 48% shooting. Emmi Almeida has five assists. Gabri Arellano and Karma Paez have combined for 15 points for Granada Hills which made a nice spurt at end of the half.  

1ST QUARTER UPDATES:

Caruthers 16, Granada Hills Charter 8: Five different Caruthers players have scored in impressive first quarter. 

CIF 2024 box D3 girls Caruthers 54, Granada Hills Charter 48
Gizelle Aguirre (3), had 13 points through three quarters for Caruthers.  / Photo: Dennis Lee

HOW TO WATCH CIF STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

Can't make it to a game but still want to watch your favorite team play live? You can watch the CIF State high school basketball championship games live on the NFHS Network:

WATCH LIVE ON NFHS NETWORK

To get live updates on your phone — as well as follow your favorite teams and top games — you can download the SBLive Sports app:

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SBLive Sports is an official digital content partner of the CIF and a member of the Sports Illustrated Media Network.

Photos: California (CIF) Division 3 state girls basketball championship


Published
Mitch Stephens, SBLive Sports
MITCH STEPHENS, SBLIVE SPORTS

Mitch Stephens is a senior editor at SBLive Sports for California, a state he's covered high school sports since 1984. He won multiple CNPA and CPSWA writing awards with the Contra Costa Times, San Francisco Chronicle and MaxPreps.com before joining the SBLive staff in 2022. He's covered the beat nationally since 2007, profiling such athletes as Derrick Henry, Paige Bueckers, Patrick Mahomes, Sabrina Ionescu, Jayson Tatum, Chiney Ogwumike, Jeremy Lin and Najee Harris as preps. You can reach him at mitch@scorebooklive.com.