Ridgeview girls capture third title in four years
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1 of 7By Henry A. Barrios / The CalifornianRidgeview High's Erica McCall celebrates a 25 to 3 lead in the 2nd period in their Friday night girls D ll Central Section Finals game against Garces. Ridgeview had a commanding lead ending the 1st half.
Erica McCall (24) has won three Central Section titles and three Californian Player of the Year awards in her illustrious Ridgeview career. She could be named POY again when the girls basketball All-Area team is released April 14.
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2 of 7By Henry A. Barrios / The CalifornianGarces High's Rachol West, left, attempts to defend against Ridgeview High's Erica McCall as she drives to the basket in their Friday night girls D ll Central Section Finals. Ridgeview had a commanding lead ending the 1st half.
Henry A. Barrios / The CalifornianGarces High's Rachol West, left, attempts to defend against Ridgeview High's Erica McCall as she drives to the basket in their Friday night girls D ll Central Section Finals. Ridgeview had a commanding lead ending the 1st half.
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3 of 7By Henry A. Barrios / The CalifornianGarces High's Celeste West can't get past the Ridgeview High's Alex Green as West drives to the basket drives in their Friday night girls D ll Central Section Finals.
Henry A. Barrios / The CalifornianGarces High's Celeste West can't get past the Ridgeview High's Alex Green as West drives to the basket drives in their Friday night girls D ll Central Section Finals.
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4 of 7By Henry A. Barrios / The CalifornianRidgeview High girls celebrate their victory over Garces High in the girls D ll Central Section Finals.
Henry A. Barrios / The CalifornianRidgeview High girls celebrate their victory over Garces High in the girls D ll Central Section Finals.
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5 of 7By Henry A. Barrios / The CalifornianRidgeview High's Alex Green leads the team out in celebration after they won girls D ll Central Section Finals against Garces High.
Henry A. Barrios / The CalifornianRidgeview High's Alex Green leads the team out in celebration after they won girls D ll Central Section Finals against Garces High.
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6 of 7By Henry A. Barrios / The CalifornianRidgeview High's, from left, Aubrie Massey, Alex Green, and Tatiyana Powell look to their fans at Selland Arena in Fresno as they are about to claim the girls D ll Central Section Finals championship over Garces High.
Henry A. Barrios / The CalifornianRidgeview High's, from left, Aubrie Massey, Alex Green, and Tatiyana Powell look to their fans at Selland Arena in Fresno as they are about to claim the girls D ll Central Section Finals championship over Garces High.
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7 of 7By Henry A. Barrios / The CalifornianRidgeview High's Tatiyana Powell can feel the victory against Garces High in the girls D ll Central Section Finals.
Henry A. Barrios / The CalifornianRidgeview High's Tatiyana Powell can feel the victory against Garces High in the girls D ll Central Section Finals.
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BY JEFF EVANS Californian staff writer jevans@bakersfield.com
FRESNO -- It was no surprise Friday evening when Erica McCall dominated in the Central Section Division II title game.
The 6-foot-3 Stanford-bound senior finished with 31 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks and three assists as Ridgeview rolled to a 65-38 win over Garces.
It was the third section title in McCall's four seasons at Ridgeview.
But she started slowly, scoring only four point in the first quarter.
Senior guard Alex Green hit a game-opening 3-pointer and had eight points after one quarter.
"That took a lot of the pressure off," said Green, like McCall a four-year starter for the Wolf Pack (26-3). "It took a lot of pressure off her."
McCall soon got going and dominated from there.
Ridgeview's defense was also sharp. Garces (26-3) didn't score a field goal until 4:33 remained in the first half, starting out 0-for-13. The Rams were only 2-of-20 from the field in the first half.
A 10-0 run to open the second quarter built a 25-3 lead.
"I don't want to sound cocky or anything, but Garces didn't belong on the same floor with us," said Ridgeview coach Michael Martin. "That is no knock against Garces, but we have an elite team."
The Wolf Pack has put itself in position to be the Central Section's representative in the newly formed Open Division state playoffs, a decision that will be announced Sunday.
"I'm not afraid of the Open Division," Martin said. "If we're selected it's an honor for Bakersfield and our program."
Ridgeview was upset by Independence 49-46 in last season's D-III title game after it had won the D-III titles in 2010 and '11.
"That game was on my mind the whole season," McCall said. "I was not going to allow that to happen again this year. It was a big goal of mine to win Valley my senior year."
Martin added, "It's been a great run. These girls never stopped competing and that makes it more special. We have 15 of the best girls around."
Green, who finished with 14 points, added: "The first two years were great. We wanted to finish this off."
The Wolf Pack jumped out 11-1 before the game was four minutes old. It was 34-13 at halftime and 44-18 midway through the third quarter.
"They made their shots and we didn't," said Garces coach Tod Denison.
McCall had 32 points, 15 rebounds and 13 blocks when Ridgeview beat Garces 59-38 on Dec. 29 at the Stockdale tournament.
"We wanted to clog the middle to try and slow her down," Denison said. "But they hit their 3s. They were the better team tonight."
West had 16 points for Garces.
"My whole goal was to get here," said West, who has signed a letter of intent with San Jose State. "It's a great experience just getting here."
West's sister, 6-foot-2 freshman center Celeste West, had a game-high 19 rebounds and had nine points.
The Rams are guaranteed a spot in the D-II Southern California playoffs. Their opponent will be announced Sunday.
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