Late rally lifts Mills

No. 3 seed Mills (28-2) advances to the championship game against No. 1 St. Ignatius (19-9) at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Foothill College.

The Vikings will be making just their second-ever appearance in a CCS title game, having won the Division II title in 1985. It took a furious fourth quarter rally to make it happen. Mills trailed the entire way before outscoring the No. 2-seeded Knights (24-4) 26-12 in the final period. The Vikings took their first lead when Mauk hit a 24-footer from well beyond the top of the key as the shot-clock buzzer sounded to give Mills a 61-60 lead with 4:29 remaining.

Lavinia Fanaika, the Peninsula Athletic League South Division Player of the Year, had another great all-around game with 24 points, nine rebounds and four steals, followed with a 3-pointer. Soquel's Samantha Hart answered with a trey to cut the Knights' deficit to 64-63 with 3:30 left, but that's as close as they would get. Mauk would then hit another big shot, this time a running, off-balanced layup as she split two defenders. With time running down and Soquel forced to foul the rest of the way, Mills sank 8 of 9 free throws in the final 2:08 to put things away.

"It's a great feeling to be able to come back the way we did," said Mills coach Dan Salvemini. "The girls never gave up. They've accomplished so much this season with everything they've been through. There is a belief with everyone around the program that we can do great things if we keep on fighting. Let's just keep it going."

Added Mauk: "I didn't see the shot clock. I just knew time was running out because people in the crowd were saying 'Just shoot it!' I'm glad I made it. I think everyone was frustrated a little because we worked so hard to come back all game and could never seem to get ahead until the end."

Salvemini and his team was a picture of poise and concentration even when the Knights were threatening to make it a blowout. They led 25-16 after one quarter with a strong high-low post game that befuddled Mills, which committed 10 turnovers in the first quarter alone. Soquel was schooling Mills on set plays, getting whatever shot it wanted and connecting from in-close and on the perimeter. Shades of Mills' ugly loss to Aragon in the PAL tournament final could be seen as the Vikings committed six turnovers on their first eight possessions.

But Mills never strayed too far from the point of no return, chipping away at the Soquel lead with tenaciousness and a consistent fury. The Vikings got to within three points on four occasions, and finally to within two points at 60-58 on Mauk's free throw with 5:15 to go, but every time they made a run, the Knights had an answer. With a tall, athletic and talented group, Soquel, a team haunted by recent semifinal losses in the section playoffs, seemed poised to finally end its postseason agony.

But nothing could stop Mills' destiny. Inspired by former coach Kelly Shea-Gallo's passing in May, and with Salvemini showing a keen sense of discipline and strategy — he's proven to be one of the best coaches in the PAL — the Vikings were not to be denied. Mauk, Danielle Simon and Tiffany Callahan all hit big shots down the stretch, as the trio scored 15 points each. Angelina Dito finished with eight points and was strong on defense yet again. And when Mills was struggling early, Fanaika played like a woman possessed, harassing the Soquel ballhandlers and imposing her will with strong drives to the basket and toughness on the boards.

"This is a dream year," Fanaika said. "It seems to get better everyday. Tonight, we just had a mentality to never give up. We never give up."

And because of that, the Mills' girls have created a lifetime of memories.