By Craig Wentz
Town Crier Correspondent
Girls Basketball Playoffs
For the second straight season, the Pinewood School girls basketball team had its state title run derailed by poor shooting in the finals of the Northern California tournament.
Pinewood connected on just 13 of 47 shots (28 percent) from the field, made only 5 of 23 three-point attempts and turned the ball over 23 times in a 46-37 loss to Amador Valley last Saturday in the NorCal Division II final at Sacramento’s Arco Arena.
Last season, Pinewood was shocked by Redwood Christian in the finals of the NorCal Division V finals by making only 9 of 51 attempts from the field.
“I don’t feel as bad as last year, but I feel bad for the girls,” said Pinewood coach Doc Scheppler, who led Pinewood to a Division V state crown in 1999. “The big differential was free throws and we got in early foul trouble.”
Top seed Pinewood (29-3) didn’t get any breaks from the officials, getting in early foul trouble and putting Amador Valley (29-3) at the free throw line. No. 2 Amador Valley made 18 of 30 free throw attempts for the game, while Pinewood was just 2 of 3 from the charity stripe.
Amador Valley (Pleasanton) did a super job of preparing for potent Pinewood, by making senior standout Sebnem Kimyacioglu, junior point guard Sarah Feely and sophomore center Katy Digovich struggle for open shots. Kimyacioglu, Feely and Digovich, who combined for 45 points per game in the regular season, combined to make only 8 of 32 shots and 19 points.
“They had us well-scouted,” Scheppler said. “They made us work for our shots and we never got in a rhythm with our early foul trouble.”
In a sloppy game where the teams shot a combined 28 percent from the field and committed 38 turnovers, Amador led 11-6 after the opening quarter and 19-10 at the half. Pinewood cut the lead to one point in the third quarter, but couldn’t overtake the two-time defending NorCal champion Dons.
Kimyacioglu, who will head to Stanford on a basketball scholarship next fall, finished her Pinewood career with a team-high 10 points.
“Sebnem is a coach’s dream,” said Scheppler. “She never gave less than an honest effort in practice or in a game. We’ll miss her.”
Pinewood returns four starters next season in hopes of defending its CCS crown and should have enough ammunition to make another run at the state championship.
Pinewood reached the championship game by drilling Carondelet 62-44 in the semifinals last Thursday at Palo Alto High.
The Panthers leaped out to an early 13-3 lead and never blinked as Kimyacioglu and Digovich dominated the Cougars inside. Kimyacioglu led Pinewood with 24 points and was assisted by Digovich’s 17 points.
“This is a special group,” Scheppler said of this season’s Panthers. “They appreciated each other.”
