Harriel’s big night powers Antelope to section final at Golden 1 Center
Jzaniya Harriel is as good as advertised and there’s a reason why she’s a national recruit.
The Antelope High School junior guard is fast, can shoot, drives hard to the basket and controls the floor as a true point guard. Harriel scored 25 of her 31 points in the first half of Monday’s Sac-Joaquin Division II semifinal, a 72-43 win over Vista del Lago. The win punched a ticket to Thursday’s championship at Golden 1 Center against Del Oro.
The Titans lost last year’s D-II final to Sacramento High on a last-second free throw. They are back in the big dance and vow to make the most of the opportunity.
“We have been wanting (to play at Golden 1 again) since last year,” Harriel said. “We are super hungry and ready. Anyone who gets in our way, we are stopping them.”
This team isn’t just the Harriel show. Angelina Jordan scored 11 and twin sister Angel scored six. Antelope also has Air Force commit Jordan Goodwin, who scored nine.
“We have five guards out there who can rebound and score,” Antelope coach Sean Chambers said. “Jordan is super skilled with the ball and can do a little bit of everything. The twins have been sensational to coach since they were freshmen on varsity. They didn’t play much that year but never complained. They went through the process. Angelina is the glue to this team and Angel is one of the best shooters I’ve ever seen.”
Then there’s Kaiija Lesane, who is in the backcourt with Harriel at all times. Like Harriel, she does everything — scores, rebounds, defends and plays hard.
“I think Kaiija is the second-best player in the city,” Chambers said. “What she does at 5-foot-6 defensively and ball-wise is something I haven’t seen before. She’s extremely aggressive”
This group has been together since Harriel and Lesane were freshmen and the twins and Goodwin were sophomores.
“I have people on my team that are Division I-level guards,” Harriel said. “We have been together for a long time through AAU and high school. We just all come together and play basketball. If you try to stop one of our players, we have someone else who can score.”
Antelope will face Sierra Foothill League powerhouse Del Oro in what figures to be a good show. It will be a game with contrasting styles as Antelope has thrived on its guard play and speed, while Del Oro has one of the best posts in the area in Madison Parry. Antelope (28-3) comes into Golden 1 having won 17 of its last 18.
“It’s going to be an interesting game,” Chambers said. “It’s the combination of opposites. This year has been a new journey. We knew we would be at Golden 1 again.”
Vista del Lago (20-10) was led by multisport athlete Mia Perez and now awaits its seeding for the CIF State tournament bracket that comes out Sunday.
SAC-JOAQUIN SECTION PLAYOFFS
Girls
Division I
St. Mary’s 68, Granite Bay 59
Oak Ridge 66, McClatchy 52
Championship: Friday at Golden 1 Center, 6 p.m.
No. 3 Oak Ridge vs No. 1 St. Mary’s
Division ll
Antelope 72, Vista del Lago 43
Del Oro 53, Laguna Creek 51
Championship: Thursday at Golden 1 Center, 6 p.m.
No. 3 Del Oro vs No. 1 Antelope
Division lll
Placer vs Merced, Tuesday
Christian Brothers 51, Vanden 42
Championship: Friday at Golden 1 Center, 2 p.m.
Placer/Merced vs No. 2 Christian Brothers
Divison lV
Argonaut 69, Hughson 58
El Dorado 59, Calaveras 51
Championship: Thursday at Golden 1 Center, 2 p.m.
No. 2 El Dorado vs No. 1 Argonaut
Division V
Colfax 71, Holt 11
Golden Sierra 58, Le Grand 48
Championship: Friday at Golden 1 Center, 10 a.m.
No. 2 Golden Sierra vs No. 1 Colfax
Division Vl
Valley Christian 56, Ripon Christian 53
Forest Lake Christian 57, Sacramento Adventist 35
Championship: Thursday at Golden 1 Center, 10 a.m.
No. 2 Forest Lake Christian vs No. 1 Valley Christian