Pinewood to meet Pacific Hills Friday in Division V state title game
By Pete Borello, Town Crier Staff Writer
 photos by R. Alan Hwang/special to the Town Crier Pinewood post player Aly Geppert goes up for a shot in last week’s Northern California playoff opener against South Fork. Pinewood won the game, then beat Branson and Forest Lake Christian to qualify for Friday’s Division V state final. |
It seems logical that a team would play closer games as it advances deeper into the playoffs against seemingly tougher competition.
The Pinewood School girls basketball team, however, has defied such logic.
The Panthers’ margin of victory increased as they progressed through the Northern California Division V tournament, culminating with a 60-40 rout of Forest Lake Christian in last Saturday’s title game.
That probably doesn’t bode well for Pacific Hills (28-4) of Los Angeles, the team Pinewood (25-5) is set to meet in the state championship game at 4 p.m,, Friday, at Arco Arena in Sacramento. Both teams were seeded third in their regions.
Like their scores, the Panthers’ confidence is rising. Coach Doc Scheppler and his players like their chances of winning their 19 consecutive game to bring home the second state title in the history of the Los Altos Hills school.
“I’m very confident,” said senior point guard Daniela Roark, who scored a team-high 17 points against Forest Lake. “I can’t see us losing.”
Roark and Scheppler said Northern California is the stronger region this year and that Pinewood’s biggest challenge came in the NorCal semifinals.
“Thursday’s game was basically the state championship game,” Scheppler said of a 52-37 win at No. 2 Branson of Ross.
It was the first of two revenge games for the Panthers, who lost to Branson (28-7) in the semifinals of the Urban Holiday Shootout back in December. Pinewood also had a score to settle with top seed Forest Lake (28-6) of Auburn. Forest Lake, defending state champ, beat the Panthers in the NorCal semis a year ago.
“We really wanted to beat them this time after they beat us last year,” Roark said. “I saw them play a few times this year, and I knew we were better than they were.”
Pinewood never trailed in Saturday’s game, played at Delta College in Stockton, and led 30-18 at halftime. Forest Lake made a run in the third quarter to get within six points, but the Panthers didn’t let the game get any closer. Senior post player Thea Morin scored just before the third-quarter buzzer to give her team a 44-36 lead.
“That was a big basket,” Scheppler said. “Thea had a great game off the bench.”
Morin finished with 10 points.
Pinewood’s other six-footer, freshman Aly Geppert, tallied 14 points and nine rebounds. Junior forward Liz Altmaier added 12 points and eight rebounds.
Roark struggled from long distance (1 for 10 on threes) but made six consecutive free throws in the fourth quarter. She also recorded nine assists.
Geppert was the lone Panther with double-digit points against Branson, scoring 20. Pinewood led just 28-23 at the half.
In its March 8 NorCal opener, the host Panthers topped No. 6 South Fork of Miranda 49-36.
