logo
Daily Pilot Girls' Basketball Dream Team: Amalia Holguin shepherded Sage Hill back to state finals

Daily Pilot Girls' Basketball Dream Team: Amalia Holguin shepherded Sage Hill back to state finals

Amalia Holguin arrived at Sage Hill two years after her peers and was soon after being considered the most talented of them all.
She was the last of the players coached by Kobe Bryant in the Mamba Sports Academy to reach high school.
Emily Eadie, Kat Righeimer, Annabelle Spotts and Zoie Lamkin were her club teammates, and in two years together at Sage Hill, Holguin completed a group that took the Lightning to new heights.
Sage Hill has never looked back, the program having now qualified for the CIF Southern Section Open Division playoffs in three consecutive years.
For the first time, Holguin had to march on without the girls she called 'sisters,' charged with leading the next version of the Lightning. It took time to materialize, but Sage Hill got to the promised land again.
'Sacramento' was thrown around like a sacred geography by Holguin, who had watched the Lightning win the CIF State Division II title at the Golden 1 Center in 2022.
Sage Hill (23-12) stomped on the competition for much of the CIF State Southern California Regional Division I playoffs, winning its first three games in the bracket by an average of 25 points. When it needed its fearless leader most, Holguin canned a dagger three in the regional final against Los Angeles Windward.
The Lightning claimed a second regional championship and returned to Sacramento, where it very nearly won a second state title in four seasons. The Lightning held a lead in the final minute, but Concord Carondelet pulled out a 51-48 win in the Division I title game.
'Going to Sacramento is a blessing,' Holguin said. 'Not everyone gets to go up there. Eve [Fowler], Addi[son Uphoff] and all the freshmen are really easy to lead because they take advice, and they actually input it into the game. Not a lot of people will probably listen to somebody just two years older than them, especially in high school. … I think they're very coachable and understanding.'
Holguin, the Pacific Coast League MVP and an All-CIF Open Division selection, averaged 14.6 points, four rebounds, four assists and 2.3 steals per game. The junior point guard made 32% of her three-point attempts. She made four shots from beyond the arc in the state final, which she finished with 21 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists.
'When the big sisters left, I think she identified with the position of being a leader,' Sage Hill coach Kerwin Walters said of Holguin. 'I think the light started clicking for her in the most positive way. Yes, we have whatever hiccups we'll have, but her growth has been outstanding. She has developed into a person that people just gravitate to, want to follow, want to be around.
'She has a light personality that is funny, giggly, and then she has this real serious personality when it comes to trying to win, which is a tremendous attribute from a leader. You know you have to be a little more cordial, a little more welcoming to everyone and try to bring them along, but then when the lights come on and you're on the floor, you've got that laser focus.'
Holguin, the Daily Pilot Girls' Basketball Player of the Year, said she wants to play at the collegiate level. If she can extend her career, she hopes to play overseas or in the WNBA.
'Since I started playing, I've always loved basketball,' Holguin said. 'I want to play for as long as I can. I guess Kobe has influenced the mentality of me working harder than others and having a goal to do it. I love this sport, so why not play it for as long as I can?'
Exposure for the women's game is on the rise, and Holguin said she can contact a couple of WNBA stars for advice in Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx and A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces.
'If I could pick their brains, they're like top people in the W,' Holguin said. 'I don't think you get much better advice.'
The mental nugget that she takes with her out onto the court in pressure situations?
'Trust the work you've put in,' Holguin said. 'When you go into big games, I've trained for this for countless hours, so I don't have to be scared of anything because I'm meant to be there.'
Sage Hill continues to shoot for the sky as a program.
'Our goal has been to get a ring, to be in the state championship game and to win the state championship game,' Walters said. '... There's no superstition about us trying to go get a ring and trying to be the best team that we can be, but really, the best team in the state of California. It's a big thing that this group is driving towards.'
Rus Soobzokov
Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach moved out of the Sunset Conference this season, and the Breakers capitalized by going undefeated in winning the Pacific Hills League championship, the program's first league title since 2016 and third overall. After the Breakers closed the previous season on a nine-game losing streak, Soobzokov guided Laguna Beach (20-10) to a 13-game improvement in the win column and the second round of the Division 4AA playoffs. Senior guard Kate Cheng was named the Pacific Hills League MVP, and freshman center Fiona McCormick nearly averaged a double-double with 16 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.
Emily Hoang
F / C | Huntington Beach | So.
Hoang impacted the game at all three levels on the offensive end of the floor. The Sunset League first-team selection paced the Oilers in scoring at 13 points per game, adding six rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.5 assists per contest. Huntington Beach (17-14) drew an at-large berth into the Division 3AA playoffs. Hoang scored 24 points to go with nine rebounds in the Oilers' postseason ouster against second-seeded El Segundo.
Kayly Honig
C | Corona del Mar | Sr.
Corona del Mar coach Brason Alexander described Honig as a 'do-everything point-center' who anchored a defense that limited opponents to 40.4 points per game. Honig averaged 10 points, 7.1 rebounds and a team-best 2.7 assists. Corona del Mar (18-11) shared the Sunset League championship with Fountain Valley and Los Alamitos. Honig was joined by teammates Sienna Knodegah, a senior guard, and Sawyer Blumenkranz, a sophomore guard, on the Sunset League first team.
Kamdyn Klamberg
G / F | Sage Hill | So.
Klamberg's role grew exponentially from a rotational player as a freshman to a go-to scorer in her second year with the Lightning. The sophomore was equally dangerous as an outside shooter or underneath the basket. She averaged 13.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, and her physicality was felt throughout the playoffs. Klamberg had a team-high 21 points and nine rebounds in the regional semifinals against Los Angeles Brentwood.
Victoria Om
G | Fountain Valley | Sr.
As often as Om filled the stat sheet, it's not hard to see why she earned a share of the Sunset League MVP award. The senior point guard split the honor with Tamlyn Yoshida of Los Alamitos, which was among the three teams tied atop the league standings. The backcourt duo of Om and junior Sophie Hsieh led Fountain Valley (19-10) to a share of its first league championship since 2022, when the Barons won the Surf League title outright. Om averaged 15 points, 6.5 assists, five steals and four rebounds per game.
Vivian Villagrana
G | Pacifica Christian | Jr.
Villagrana tickled the twine with regularity for the Tritons, who needed all the scoring they could get against a tough schedule. Pacifica Christian (13-15) played five games against Division 1 playoff teams, as well as two games against Open Division qualifier Fairmont Prep in the San Joaquin League. Villagrana scored 19.2 points per game to go with averages of 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals. The All-CIF Division 3AA honoree was one of three first-team all-league selections for the Tritons, joined by senior guard Caylie Villagrana and junior forward Angie Martinez.
Position, Name, School, Year
G / F Angelina Bado, Ocean View, Sr.
G Rylee Bradley, Marina, Jr.
G Kate Cheng, Laguna Beach, Sr.
C Eve Fowler, Sage Hill, Fr.
G Sienna Knodegah, Sr.
F Leilani Quero, Costa Mesa, Jr.
C Fiona McCormick, Laguna Beach, Fr.
G Maria Tejeda, Marina, Sr.
G / F Addison Uphoff, Sage Hill, Fr.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

A rookie called Otto: Undrafted Kemp gets 3 hits and sparks rally in 1st home game for Phillies

time2 hours ago

A rookie called Otto: Undrafted Kemp gets 3 hits and sparks rally in 1st home game for Phillies

PHILADELPHIA -- Otto Kemp wandered alone for about 20 minutes in his first trip to Citizens Bank Park — 'people were (like) what is this guy doing in this place?' — when he spotted Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto. Hours before Realmuto would score the winning run in an extra-innings comeback — a run set-up in large part by Kemp's bunt single in the two-run rally — he found the rookie and showed him the way to the clubhouse. 'I kind of walked with him and let him take me,' Kemp said, laughing. 'Just trying to enjoy it. Get the lay of the land. Every clubhouse is different. Enjoy the day. Enjoy the moment.' Kemp's improbable rise from undrafted Division II prospect out of Point Loma Nazarene University in California to signing a free-agent minor-league deal with the Phillies in 2022 through four minor-league stops finally brought him Monday night for the first time to Citizens Bank Park. Not as a fan such as reliever Orion Kerkering, who had to scrounge for upper deck tickets as a prospect to watch the 2022 World Series. Or even former Phillies pitcher Tyler Phillips, who practically grew up at the ballpark as a diehard fan of the team. Kemp saved his first trip to the ballpark for when he finally made the major leagues. 'I just tried to keep it special,' he said. 'I just tried to keep it something that I get to do on the first day I get to the big leagues. It was kind of just a little bit of motivation to keep me pushing and get to this point.' The 25-year-old Kemp's push took him first to Pittsburgh when he was called up Saturday from Triple-A Lehigh Valley with slugger Bryce Harper on the injured list. Kemp made his third straight start Monday night, this one against the Chicago Cubs and he finished a sparkling 3 for 5 with an error, his first career hit and run scored. Kemp said he hadn't bunted since he played collegiate summer baseball for the St. Cloud Rox in 2021. 'I popped it up straight to the catcher,' he said with a laugh. The seemingly lost art in baseball came right back to Kemp. It certainly helped that he told the Phillies coaching staff over the weekend that, yes, he could in fact bunt. Realmuto made it 3-all when he drove in the automatic runner with a single off Cubs reliever Daniel Palencia. The Phillies then improbably got two straight bunt singles, the first from Bryson Stott — a late-inning replacement after he was benched amid a 2-for-24 slump —and then from Kemp, who had the third of his first three big league hits in the game to set up the clutch swing from Marsh. Marsh — batting just .228 on the season — delivered a 381-foot single to center that scored Realmuto for the 4-3 victory and snapped the Phillies' five game losing streak. Marsh, a fan-favorite with his stringy hair and ZZ Top-esque beard, said it was the first walk-off winner of his career at any level of baseball. Kemp singled in the fifth for his first hit — he said he would frame the baseball — and scurried to third on Cubs starter Matthew Boyd's errant pickoff attempt. Kemp scored on Weston Wilson's RBI single for a 2-1 lead. Kemp's surprise call-up at around 11 p.m. Friday night in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the Iron Pigs played turned into a whirlwind trip for him and his family and friends. Kemp had an early morning flight on Saturday to Pittsburgh while his wife and dog drove from North Carolina and his parents scrambled to find a red-eye from California and made it to the game just in time. Kemp had his wife, his dad, three friends and his Point Loma college baseball coach Justin James and his family and friends at the game Monday for the home debut. 'It's cool to execute that bunt and get it down and thank him for raising me in a West Coast baseball program,' Kemp said. 'He's stoked. He's just so fired up. Just to see me in that moment and out on that field, it's cool for him to see one of his products and how he helped me get to this point.' Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Kemp could play first base and even the outfield the longer he stays in the major leagues. Kemp played all over the field this season at Triple-A with 33 starts at third base, 17 combined starts at second and first base and seven starts in the outfield. It was all enough to impress Thomson and the Phillies front office. 'He's looked comfortable. He's got great composure,' Thomson said. 'I really like the way he goes about his business.' Kemp was slashing .313/.416/.594 with a 1.010 OPS, 49 runs, 14 home runs and 55 RBI in 58 games for the Iron Pigs. A non-roster invitee to spring training this season, the reality of going from unwanted in the draft to undeniable on the way to the majors truly came into focus over the last two seasons. 'Double-A was when it really clicked,' Kemp said. 'Like this is when it can become a real possibility.' As his new Phillies teammates bathed him in sports drinks and water to celebrate his three hits and the win, he soaked in the moment and how that possibility had indeed turned into a reality. 'I'll have that Gatorade bath any day,' he said.

What teams are in College World Series at Omaha? Schedule, NCAA men's baseball teams, dates
What teams are in College World Series at Omaha? Schedule, NCAA men's baseball teams, dates

Yahoo

time18 hours ago

  • Yahoo

What teams are in College World Series at Omaha? Schedule, NCAA men's baseball teams, dates

The College World Series tournament bracket is almost set for Charles Schwab Field Omaha, with one NCAA men's Division I baseball game remaining to finalize the 8 competing teams. Here's a look at the College World Series bracket with Duke-Murray State left to play, tournament dates, teams and how the College World Series works: What teams are going to Omaha for the 2025 College World Series? When is Duke vs. Murray State Durham Super Regional game for berth into 2025 College World Series? Game 3 of the Duke vs. Murray State Super Regional championship will take place at 7 p.m. ET, June 9, 2025. What is the 2025 College World Series bracket in Omaha for NCAA men's baseball? The 2025 College World Series bracket pairings are listed below. A schedule of game times for each matchup has yet to be determined: 2025 College World Series first-round pairings Bracket 1 Advertisement Bracket 2 What is the 2025 College World Series schedule in Omaha for NCAA men's baseball? The College World Series begins at noon ET, Friday, June 13, 2025. Visit for a complete schedule of times and games. Most games will be televised on ESPN. Game 2 of the College World Series championship will air on ABC. How does the 2025 College World Series work? The 8 super regional winners meet for the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., and are split into two double-elimination brackets with four teams each, according to The winners of the two College World Series double-elimination brackets meet in a best-of-three championship series to decide the College World Series champion. Who are the NCAA men's baseball national Top 16 seeds? Here are the top 16 seeds of the NCAA men's baseball tournament. Records are from the time of selection: Advertisement Vanderbilt (42-16) Texas (42-12) Arkansas (43-13) Auburn (38-18) North Carolina (42-12) LSU (43-14) Georgia (42-15) Oregon St. (41-12-1) Florida St. (38-14) Ole Miss (40-19) Clemson (44-16) Oregon (42-14) Coastal Carolina (48-11) Tennessee (43-16) UCLA (42-16) Southern Miss. (44-14) How to get tickets for the Men's College World Series 2025 College World Series tickets For 2025 College World Series ticket information, visit Chris Sims is a digital producer at IndyStar. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: College World Series 2025 baseball bracket: Schedule, NCAA men's teams

What teams are in College World Series at Omaha? Schedule, NCAA men's baseball teams, dates
What teams are in College World Series at Omaha? Schedule, NCAA men's baseball teams, dates

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Yahoo

What teams are in College World Series at Omaha? Schedule, NCAA men's baseball teams, dates

The College World Series tournament bracket is almost set for Charles Schwab Field Omaha, with one NCAA men's Division I baseball game remaining to finalize the 8 competing teams. Here's a look at the College World Series bracket with Duke-Murray State left to play, tournament dates, teams and how the College World Series works: What teams are going to Omaha for the 2025 College World Series? When is Duke vs. Murray State Durham Super Regional game for berth into 2025 College World Series? Game 3 of the Duke vs. Murray State Super Regional championship will take place at 7 p.m. ET, June 9, 2025. What is the 2025 College World Series bracket in Omaha for NCAA men's baseball? The 2025 College World Series bracket pairings are listed below. A schedule of game times for each matchup has yet to be determined: 2025 College World Series first-round pairings Bracket 1 Advertisement Bracket 2 What is the 2025 College World Series schedule in Omaha for NCAA men's baseball? The College World Series begins at noon ET, Friday, June 13, 2025. Visit for a complete schedule of times and games. Most games will be televised on ESPN. Game 2 of the College World Series championship will air on ABC. How does the 2025 College World Series work? The 8 super regional winners meet for the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., and are split into two double-elimination brackets with four teams each, according to The winners of the two College World Series double-elimination brackets meet in a best-of-three championship series to decide the College World Series champion. Who are the NCAA men's baseball national Top 16 seeds? Here are the top 16 seeds of the NCAA men's baseball tournament. Records are from the time of selection: Advertisement Vanderbilt (42-16) Texas (42-12) Arkansas (43-13) Auburn (38-18) North Carolina (42-12) LSU (43-14) Georgia (42-15) Oregon St. (41-12-1) Florida St. (38-14) Ole Miss (40-19) Clemson (44-16) Oregon (42-14) Coastal Carolina (48-11) Tennessee (43-16) UCLA (42-16) Southern Miss. (44-14) How to get tickets for the Men's College World Series 2025 College World Series tickets For 2025 College World Series ticket information, visit Chris Sims is a digital producer at IndyStar. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: College World Series 2025 baseball bracket: Schedule, NCAA men's teams

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store