Like all teams, the Capuchino girls’ basketball squad set a number of preseason goals and with only a couple weeks left in the season, the Mustangs have already achieved three of them.
The first two were to be .500 in both non-league and Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division play. Both of those have been accomplished, which automatically accomplished their third goal of qualifying for the playoffs.
What else can the Mustangs accomplish?
“We might have to set some new goals,” Rossi said, who is in his third season with the Mustangs.
How about finishing the season on a 17-game winning streak and capturing the Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division title? Both those accomplishments are still on the table as the Mustangs stayed undefeated in Ocean play and ran their winning streak to 12 games in a row following a 45-23 win over South City Friday night in San Bruno.
If there ever was a trap game for Capuchino (8-0 PAL Ocean, 15-2 overall), Friday night against South City was it. The Mustangs were coming off a dramatic 39-35 win over Woodside, taking sole possession of the Ocean Division lead by handing the Wildcats their first league loss of the season.
In South City (4-4, 11-9), the Mustangs were facing a team that they only beat by 12 points, 51-39, in their first meeting Jan. 9 in South San Francisco.
Rossi admitted there was a little bit of concern.
“Over confidence,” Rossi said was his biggest worry. “But it’s not a huge concern.”
Both teams came out a little jittery to start the game, as it took nearly two minutes for the Warriors to break the seal on the scoreboard, with Liala Kinchen scoring on a scoop to the hoop. Capuchino answered with a fastbreak layup from Sipola Lavulo to open the Mustangs’ scoring.
With the game tied at 4-all, Capuchino scored the next seven points and never trailed again. Lorelai Shinn got the run started with a 3-pointer, followed by a fastbreak layup from Kailee Gonzales and capped by two free throws from Darla Rancatore as the Mustangs would go on to lead 12-9 after the first period.
In the second, the Mustangs took control of the game. After coming up with five steals in the first quarter, Capuchino added three in the second and forced two more South City turnovers as the Mustangs held the Warriors scoreless as they scored 11 points to open up a 23-9 lead at halftime.
“When we finally calmed down, we started playing better,” Rossi said.
A Shinn 3 opened the second half to push the Mustangs’ lead to 26-9 before South City’s Kylee Chiva finally broke the scoring drought with a 3 of her own at the 6:46 mark of the third quarter.
The Warriors went the final 1:20 of the first period without a point, followed by being shutout in the second. Chiva’s bucket ended a 10 minute, 34 second scoreless streak.
But that Chiva 3 provided a spark for the Warriors as Kinchen and Chiva came up with back-to-back steals and layups and suddenly South City was down just 10, 26-16, with 4:16 left in the third, causing Rossi to call a timeout.
Chiva led the Warriors with eight points.
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Was that a bit of a wake-up call for his team?
“I think so,” Rossi said.
It must have got the Mustangs’ attention because when they came out of that timeout, they promptly went on a 7-0 run. It was, again, started by a Shinn 3, followed by a pair of free throws from Kaitlyn Staff and a layup from Brianna Lopiccolo as Capuchino pushed its lead back to 15, 31-16, as the Mustangs would lead 37-18 going into the fourth when it essentially became a bench game.
Capuchino hasn’t loss since Dec. 12 when the Mustangs dropped a 50-45 decision to Irvington-Fremont. But dating to last season, when they won six of their last eight game, Capuchino has won 21 of its last 25 games.
But whose counting?
“I don’t count,” Rossi said. “It sounds cliche, but to me, it’s one game at a time.”
Comparing year-over-year can sometimes be foolhardy at the high school level, as teams constantly change. But with six, three-year varsity players, along with five seniors, this year has simply been a continuation of last season.
And over those last three seasons, the Mustangs have gotten better and better. Three years ago, the Mustangs were 6-17 overall. Last year, they went 13-11 and qualified for the Central Coast Section playoffs.
This year, they are three wins away from matching their win total from the last two years, combined.
“When I started here three years ago, it was about (the team) buying in,” Rossi said. “They’re buying in and they’re talented. Now, we have our system, play tough defense and are patient on offense.
“And (getting) balanced scoring.”
Nine of the 13 players on the Capuchino roster got in the scoring column, led by Shinn, who hit three 3s, and Staff, who both finished with 10 points. Gonzales added eight for the Mustangs.
There is still one more goal the Mustangs have yet to achieve and that’s more of a timing issue than anything else.
“We want to be playing our best in February,” Rossi said.
What about that division championship?
“I think that just happens,” Rossi said.
With four more Ocean Division wins, that will happen.
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