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Gators Advance to First CCS Basketball Championship in School History with Two-Point Win Over St. Francis CCC

March 4, 2009 on 9:55 pm | In Game Recaps | No Comments

Castilleja advanced to its first CCS basketball championship in school history with a two-point win over host St. Francis CCC in the Semi-Finals of the CCS Playoffs. The Gators never trailed in the contest leading by as many as eight. Castilleja was aided by the defense of Tayo Amos and Ericka von Kaeppler (10 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, four blocks) who held SCCAL MVP Katherine Brown to nine points. Natasha von Kaeppler took care of the offense for the Gators scoring a game high 18 points while pulling down a Castilleja CCS record 16 rebounds, despite committing three fouls in the game’s opening minutes. Castilleja led at halftime 21-16 and appeared in control as they took the floor in the second half. Castilleja would open up an eight-point lead in the third quarter, but weren’t able to put away the Sharks as St. Francis would outscore Castilleja by five over the middle four minutes of the third, capped off by a three to pull the Sharks with three at 23-26. Tayo Amos answered the St. Francis rally with a deep jumper to put Castilleja back up five. St. Francis would hit a free throw and a runner to pull within two as the as the final seconds of the third quarter loomed. Castilleja would hit a free throw and Natasha von Kaeppler beat the third quarter buzzer with a steal and a layup, pushing Castilleja’s lead back to their halftime advantage of five, erasing the the damage done by St. Francis in the third period. The fourth quarter saw the two teams in a defensive battle as Castilleja appeared as though it finish off the Sharks, leading by seven with five minutes left. Castilleja, however, would not score, over the next 4:30 as St. Francis hit a three with 2:50 left to pull to within four and a jumper with 28 seconds left trimming the Gators’ advantage to two. The Sharks were forced to foul three times to put Natasha von Kaeppler on the line with 10 seconds left. The sophomore calmly sank both free throws sealing the game for the Gators. Castilleja took great care of the ball only committing seven turnovers, none of which were steals. As a result, Castilleja outscored St. Francis 18-0 on points of turnovers. Castilleja will play Pinewood for an unprecidented fifth time this season for the CCS Championship Saturday morning at Santa Clara University. The win also earns Castilleja a trip to their first ever NorCal Playoffs.

Notes: Ericka von Kaeppler becomes the 2nd player in school history to pull down 900 career rebounds…Castilleja is 9-2 all-time when both von Kaeppler sisters record double-doubles…Castilleja had lost its previous 13 games when scoring 35 points or fewer.