BREAKING: The Santa Cruz High girls’ basketball team pulled off a stunning victory against Los Altos, winning 45-44 in a nail-biting finish at the 12th annual Aptos High/Santa Cruz Warriors NorCal Invitational on December 11, 2023. Junior guard/forward Mila Conn hit the game-winning shot with just five seconds remaining, sealing a crucial win for the Cardinals.
The match was tightly contested throughout, with Santa Cruz trailing 20-13 at halftime. However, they surged back, outscoring Los Altos 20-9 in the third quarter. Moments before Conn’s decisive basket, Los Altos’ senior guard Ella McFarlane had given her team a brief lead with a corner three-pointer, making it 44-43.
Conn’s late-game heroics came after receiving a give-and-go pass from Nadia Delgadillo, allowing her to drive the length of the court for a pull-up jumper that stunned the Eagles. As the clock ticked down, Los Altos had one last chance to reclaim the lead, but their last-second three-pointer fell short as time expired.
With this victory, the Cardinals (now 7-4) not only secured a winning record for the preseason but also positioned themselves for the upcoming Central Coast Section playoffs. Coach Todd Trowbridge expressed his pride in the team’s resilience, stating, “It was a big win for us… to finish this game the way we did, I was very pleased.”
Conn finished the game with 17 points and seven rebounds, while senior forward Karolina Espinosa contributed 16 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists. The standout performance from Los Altos came from McFarlane, who scored 22 points, alongside freshman Taylor Ware with 12 points.
Looking ahead, Santa Cruz will face Half Moon Bay (currently 6-2) in the semifinals at 3:30 PM on Tuesday. This matchup promises to be another exciting contest as the teams vie for a spot in the finals of the prestigious tournament.
Stay tuned as we continue to cover the latest developments from the Aptos High/Santa Cruz Warriors NorCal Invitational!
