Four-peat for Menlo

Liu and Xin are the only seniors on this year’s squad, and played like it in the finals. Liu recorded a double-double with 27 points and 13 rebounds while knocking down four 3s. Xin hit two 3s, her second a deep look from up top midway through the third quarter to spark a 12-0 Menlo run. Xin finished with 14 points.

“I think team culture has shifted a lot,” Xin said. “It’s come a long way.”

Second-year head coach Ryan Cooper has earned back-to-back CCS championships. The first two titles in the program-record four-peat run were with John Paye at the helm.

“In the past, we had a great team and it was full of talent,” Xin said. “But people wouldn’t show up outside of the times they were required to, and this year it’s totally different. I mean, people are shooting after practice, coming in before, they’re eating well, they’re doing all the right things to get to this point. We’re watching film. We’re doing a lot of things that aren’t necessarily on the court, but are helping us a lot when we have to perform.”

In the closing minute, however, it was the presence of sophomores Sophia Longinidis and Ava Allen that loomed large.

Menlo’s 12-0 run pushed the lead to 47-33 early in the fourth quarter, with the Knights looking to cruise to the crown. Harker, however, refused to go quietly. Menlo upped the lead to 50-36 on Longinidis’ perimeter 3 with 6:49 to play. The Eagles responded with senior Isabella Lo hitting 1 of 2 free throws, then stealing the ball at half court with a clean pick to score a transition layup. Harker finished the night on a 15-4 run.

“For the girls, it came down to the realization that they wanted it more, and they had to get after it and stop watching from the background,” Harker head coach Daniza Rodriguez said.

Harker came inches from pushing the run to 18-4 and forcing the game into overtime.

Lo finished with a team-high 20 points, and took a while to get going after Menlo’s defense was keying on her early in the game. Harker’s top scorer was held scoreless in the first period. She went on the hit a 3 early in the second to break the seal.

“We’ve been doing it all year, picking a player on the other team and try to neutralize by face-guarding,” Cooper said. “But the hardest part is this is the first time we’ve had to do it against a primary ball handler. So, [Sophie Housser and Maren Mulloy], I thought, did an unbelievable job. We kept subbing and trying to wear her down.”

But in the closing seconds, Lo got a look to attempt a game-tying buzzer-beater.

The drama began unfolding with 18 seconds to play with Menlo leading 53-49 and Allen at the free-throw line. The sophomore was suffering through an excruciating shooting performance. Menlo shot just 31.5% from the field as a team, and Allen had missed all her field-goal attempts. When she got to the line, the trend continued, as she missed her first free throw.

Allen finished with one point in the game by hitting the second, and it loomed large by ultimately forcing Harker to finish the night with a long-range attempt.

The Eagles answered with a furious pace up the floor, and a wonky attempt at an off-balance layup that was blocked by Xin, but the rebound went right to Harker forward Emily Mitnick, who scored it and drew a foul in the process. Mitnick missed the free throw to keep it at 54-51. Longinidis grabbed the rebound and was fouled immediately to get to the line in the bonus. However, Longinidis missed both free throws, allowing Harker to use its last timeout to set up a potential game-tying 3-point try.

That’s when Longinidis made up for her missed free throws on the defensive side.

“Thank God we switched,” Cooper said. “Because if we wouldn’t have, there would have been nobody there. So, Sophia switched out, and it was a good switch. They still got the shot off, but maybe the basketball gods were in our favor.”

Inbounding from the sideline with five seconds to play, Harker got the ball to Lo, who took a pass at the perimeter for a contested sidestep 3 with Longinidis in her face. The attempt rattled out, and had it dropped, even though the shot appeared to be released after the buzzer sounded, the referees did not waive it off.

“The girls executed it,” Rodriguez said. “We wanted to get an open look and we were able to get one, and we’re glad she shot with confidence and all the girls believed in her behind her shot.”

Longinidis finished with 12 points, on four made 3s, matching Liu’s output from long range. Liu took the opportunity to rib her younger teammate, who everyone refers to as “Long,” after the game.

“‘Long’ has been really bad — I’m joking! I’m joking!” Liu said. “‘Long’ is amazing. She’s been so important to us this year, especially because a lot of teams focus on me and Karen. That leaves a lot of openings for other shooters ... and they’ve been hitting their shots, and that’s been so important in order for us to qualify for CCS. We wouldn’t be here without her and Ava.”

Longinidis said the senior leadership from Liu and Xin has been invaluable to the four-peat run.

“They’re both pretty big voices on our team,” Longinidis said. “They’re always supporting us, letting us know what we can do better, but not in like a rude way or anything like that. It’s always good advice and things that are helping us improve.”

Menlo won the rebounding battle 38-31, while Harker shot more efficiently at 44.4% from the field. Harker freshman Jillian Chen finished with 14 points, while Mitnick recorded a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Next up, Menlo has earned a bid to the CIF Division III State Girls’ Basketball Championships. The Knights are seeded No.6 and will open at home Tuesday against St. Bernard’s-Eureka. Tip-off is 7 p.m.