CastillejaBasketball.com Official Blog

Late Run & Perimeter Shooting Lead Gators Past Knights

Castilleja remained in control of its own destiny by claiming a 15-point win at The King’s Academy Tuesday night. The Gators built an early seven-point lead as junior Olivia Nicholls tallied six of her 12 points in the opening frame. Castilleja would struggle in the second quarter as they managed only four points and took a two-point edge into the break. The third quarter would see both teams wake up offensively as the two teams combined for six three-point field goals. The Knights briefly took a one-point advantage with 2 1/2 left in the third, however the Gators answered with a 14-0 run to put the contest out of reach. Freshman Madelyn Tarr scored 11 of her game- and career-high 16 points in the second half as she knocked down a career-high four three-pointers helping the Gators to shoot a season-high 50% from downtown. Freshman Paige Vermeer led the team with a career-high seven assists to go along with seven points and three steals. Junior Lauren Rantz grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds while freshman Yasmeen Afifi pulled down 12. The Gators can win the Skyline Division Championship outright with a victory Thursday at Mercy Burlingame.

Gators Fall Against State’s Top D-5 Squad

The Gators fell to D-5 powerhouse Brookside Christian Saturday afternoon at the Bentley Shootout. The Knights came into the contest as the #1 ranked Division V school in California in addition to a seven-game winning streak. Castilleja played near even with Brookside through the first ten minutes of game as they trailed 12-17 early in the second. The Knights then reeled off ten straight points to open up a 15-point advantage which they carried into halftime. Brookside would put the game out of reach in the third as they held the Gators to a season-low four third-quarter points. The Gators were led in the scoring column by freshman Yasmeen Afifi for the third straight game. The center tallied 13 points as well as a team-high eight rebounds. Junior Lauren Rantz also collected a team-high eight rebounds as the tandem also each accounted for a pair of rejections. Sophomore Emily Richardson led Castilleja with a career-high four assists to go along with nine points off the bench. Junior Olivia Nicholls scored the game’s opening basket to become the 13th player in school history to reach the 400-point plateau.

Notes: The loss is Castilleja’s first in their four trips to the Bentley Shootout…Castilleja falls to 0-28 all-time when failing to score more than 30 points; 14 field goals ties record for most in such games.

Gators Honor Modi; Clinch WBAL Playoff Berth

Castilleja clinched a WBAL Playoff berth with a convincing win over visiting I.C.A Friday on Senior Night. The Gators honored lone senior Riya Modi by placing the guard on the floor for the start and end of the contest as she otherwise remains sidelined with a knee injury. Castilleja put the game out of reach early outscoring the Spartans 22-0 to start the contest. Freshman Yasmeen Afifi hit her first six shots from the field as she tallied 12 of her game- and career-high 18 points in the opening frame. Afifi added a team-high eight rebounds while recording a career-high-tying three rejections. Junior Lauren Rantz added ten points in addition to team-highs of eight boards and four blocks. Freshman Paige Vermeer dished out a team-high four assists while the Gators tied an all-time record by allowing only two first half points.

Notes: Castilleja has won 11 of its last 12 senior nights

Gators Relinquish Late Lead After Erasing Double-Digit Deficit

Castilleja fell to the visiting Harker Eagles Tuesday night despite overcoming a 13-point first-half deficit.  Trailing by 12 late in the third quarter, the Gators would outscore Harker 17-3 to take a 44-42 lead.  The Eagles tied the game on a layup and had the ball in the final seconds with a chance to win.  While winding down the clock, guard Daniza Rodriguez appeared as though to commit a backcourt violation as she stutter-dribbled over and back the midcourt line. The junior, however, wasn’t whistled for the infraction and went on to score the final three of her game-high 24 points via a layup plus the free throw to give Harker a 47-44 advantage.  Down three with four seconds left, the Gators went the length of the floor, but their overtime-forcing three wouldn’t fall.  Castilleja was led by freshman Yasmeen Afifi who recorded her fourth career double-double with a career-high 15 points and 10 boards.  Junior Lauren Rantz recorded her ninth career double-double with ten points and a team-high 12 rebounds.  Rantz also became the 12th player in school history to reach the 400 career-point plateau and recorded seven rejections to become the second player in school history to amass 100 blocked shots in a single season.  Junior Olivia Nicholls led the team with a career-high seven assists, besting the prior career-high six dishes she handed out on Friday.  Freshman Paige Vermeer added 11 points, five steals and four assists to go along with a career-high three treys.

Notes: The loss snaps Castilleja’s 29-game home winning streak over current WBAL – Skyline teams.  Their last such loss was in January 2001…Castilleja falls to 54-5 since 2003-04 when having at least three players score in double-figures.

Gators Cruise to Victory Thanks to Early Run

Castilleja remained in first place in the WBAL Skyline Division with a road win over Crystal Springs Friday night. The Gators opened up the game by going a 23-0 run early in the contest, then exchanged buckets the rest of the way while shooting a season-high 47% from the field. Castilleja was led by junior Olivia Nicholls who tied a career high 17 points while establishing a new career-high with a team-leading six assists. Freshman Yasmeen Afifi also tied a career-high with 14 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Junior Lauren Rantz also recorded a double-double with a team-high 15 boards and 13 points. Rantz also recorded a team-high eight rejections and surpassed Lindsay Taylor for fifth on the school’s all-time rebounding list. Freshman Paige Vermeer added seven points and seven steals while freshman Madelyn Tarr tallied career-highs of eight points and four assists.

Gators Hold Off Knights; Take Sole Possession of 1st Place

Castilleja took sole possession of first place with a win over visiting King’s Academy Tuesday night. The Knights, which led briefly in the final period, had two cracks at tying the contest in the final seconds, but neither three-point attempt would fall. After banking in a three with two minutes left to cut the Gator lead to three, The King’s Academy failed to score again as Castilleja hung on for the victory. The Gators were led by junior Lauren Rantz who scored 12 points to go along with 13 rebounds and five blocks. Freshman Madelyn Tarr led the team with a career-high three assists in addition to a career high 11 boards. Freshman Yasmeen Afifi chipped in ten points while swatting a career-high-tying three blocks. Castilleja shot just 22% from the field, marking the second lowest field goal percentage in a win in school history. The Gators were also without the services of point guard and leading scorer Riya Modi who was scratched due to an injured knee. With the lone senior sidelined, Castilleja played only the second game in school history without a senior.

Notes: Castilleja had dropped their previous four games decided by three points or fewer with their last victory coming in December 2010…The Gators improve to 51-1 all-time at Castilleja when holding opponents under 35 points.

Balanced Attack Leads St. Francis Past Castilleja

Castilleja suffered a non-league defeat Saturday afternoon to visiting St. Francis. The Lancers jumped out to an early 7-0 lead before Castilleja answered back with their own 7-0 burst to tie the game. St. Francis would control the remainder of the contest outscoring the Gators 29-6 to close out the first half. Castilleja was dealt an early blow as leading scorer Riya Modi was forced to leave the game with an injury after just six minutes. Freshman Paige Vermeer took over point guard duties for the Gators as she tallied team-highs of three assists, five points and four steals. Junior Olivia Nicholls also added a team-high five points as Castilleja only managed a season-low 23 points. Junior Lauren Rantz led the Gators with six rebounds and three blocks. The Lancers featured a balanced scoring attack as three players led St. Francis with game-highs of nine points. The 81 combined points are the most in Castilleja history in which neither team had a player scoring in double-figures.

Gators Receive Team Effort, Dispatch CSU

Castilleja turned a nine-point halftime advantage into a 28-point victory over visiting Crystal Springs Uplands Friday night. The Gators used an 18-2 third quarter to put away Gryphons who had remained withing shouting distance for much of the first half. Senior Riya Modi led Castilleja with 18 points, seven assists and career-high-tying five steals. The seven dishes moves her past Lindsay Taylor for third on the school’s all-time assists list. Junior Lauren Rantz tied a career-high with 17 rebounds to go along with 14 points for her sixth career double-double while freshman Yasmeen Afifi scored a career-high 14 points while pulling down 11 boards for second career double-double. Rantz also added a team-high seven blocks in the victory.

Gators Fall to Harker in OT Despite Rantz’s Triple-Double

Castilleja and Harker exchanged leads 15 times Wednesday, the last of which occurred on a Harker layup in the final three seconds of overtime to seal the victory for the Eagles. Castilleja came into the contest having never lost to Harker in program history sporting a 13-0 record as well as 56-game winning streak over current WBAL – Skyline teams. Junior Lauren Rantz became the first Castilleja player to record multiple triple-doubles in a single season by scoring a career-high 20 points, grabbing 13 rebounds and tying a career-high 12 blocks matching the total from her previous triple-double weeks ago. Rantz also became the first player in school history to record a triple-double in a losing effort while her 12 blocks are the most by a Castilleja player in defeat. Senior Riya Modi also set a school mark by dishing out ten assists in a loss to become the fourth player in school history with 300 career assists.

Notes: Castilleja (35%) outshot Harker (25%) marking the first time in 30 games Castilleja has lost while outshooting their opponent by at least 10%. Castilleja is 67-3 all-time in such games with all three losses coming by a single point…The 15 lead changes are the most in a Castilleja game since the stat was tracked starting in the 2005-06 season.

Gators Ride Modi’s First Quarter to Easy Victory

Castilleja snapped its five-game league road losing streak with a convincing 52-10 victory over host I.C.A. Tuesday night. The Gators broke the game open early thanks to senior Riya Modi who tallied a school record-tying 15 of her game-high 20 in the opening frame. Castilleja outscored I.C.A. 24-0 from late in the first to early in the third to help build their 40-point cushion. Castilleja grabbed a season-high 55 rebounds, including a season-high 34 on the offensive end. Junior Lauren Rantz led the Gators with 10 boards while freshman Madelyn Tarr pulled down a career-high nine. Sophomore Alina Brown led Castilleja with a career-high four steals.

Notes: Modi’s 15 points are a school record for the first quarter…Castilleja has now won 15 consecutive games over I.C.A.