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San Clemente’s girls basketball team is coming together at the right time.
The Tritons continued their push toward the playoffs by edging host San Juan Hills 54-51 on Thursday to claim the outright South Coast League title.
Ellie Anderson sank a 3-pointer from the wing with 10 seconds left in regulation to snap a 51-51 tie and send the Tritons (22-5, 7-0) to an 11th consecutive victory.
San Juan Hills center Ellasyn Hunter shoots a contested layup during a South Coast League game against San Clemente on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills small forward Anna Shreeve drives to the basket during a South Coast League game against San Clemente on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills’ Adelyn Boberg shoots a layup during a South Coast League game against San Clemente on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente center Reese Tremper shoots the ball during a 54-51 win over San Juan Hills in a South Coast League game on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente players and coaches celebrate their 54-51 win over San Clemente following a South Coast League game between the two teams on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente guard Kiley Husbands shoots a step-back jump shot during a 54-51 win over San Juan Hills in a South Coast League game between the two teams on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills center Ellasyn Hunter shoots a layup during a South Coast League game against San Clemente on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills small forward Anna Shreeve drives to the basket during a South Coast League game against San Clemente on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente point guard Andrea Rico brings the ball up the court during a 54-51 win over San Juan Hills in a South Coast League game between the two teams on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente point guard Andrea Rico drives to the basket during a 54-51 win over San Juan Hills in a South Coast League game between the two teams on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills small forward Anna Shreeve shoots a jump shot during a South Coast League game against San Clemente on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills’ Adelyn Boberg shoots a layup during a South Coast League game against San Clemente on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills shooting guard Olivia Morgan shoots a 3-pointer during a South Coast League game against San Clemente on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente guard Kiley Husbands drives to the basket during a 54-51 win over San Juan Hills in a South Coast League game between the two teams on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills guard Gemma Goldman brings the ball up the court during a South Coast League game against San Clemente on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills’ Adelyn Boberg drives to the basket during a South Coast League game against San Clemente on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills center Ellasyn Hunter shoots a layup during a South Coast League game against San Clemente on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
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San Juan Hills center Ellasyn Hunter shoots a contested layup during a South Coast League game against San Clemente on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Anderson and Quinsey Bryan — both junior guards — each finished with 15 points on five 3-pointers in a balanced effort for San Clemente, ranked fifth in Orange County.
“We’re meshing really well and we have a lot of fun together,” said Bryan, one of the Tritons’ two offseason transfers. “We’re getting a lot more comfortable in knowing where we excel. We’re learning as the season goes on.”
San Clemente certainly exerted itself against No. 12 San Juan Hills (16-11, 5-2), which missed a contested 3-pointer in the final seconds.
Coming out of a timeout with 30 seconds left in the fourth period, Anderson sank the game-winning 3-pointer from the wing off a pass from sophomore Izzy Sims at the high post.
“I was feeling it,” said Anderson, who made 5 of 7 shots from beyond the arc. “I knew it was going to make it (at the end). I was open and it was just a matter of time.”
San Juan Hills showed its resolve by weathering a barrage of 3-pointers by Bryan and Anderson in the third quarter to stick close in the fourth.
Adelyn Boberg sank a pair of 3s in the final frame and sank a floater to tie the score 51-51 with 3:07 left.
The junior, who finished with 17 points, tied the score on a play extended by a tip-out rebound by Anna Shreeve. The Utah Valley-bound senior finished with 20 points and eight rebounds.
While San Clemente finished with nine 3-poimters, San Juan Hills tallied eight.
“They came out and executed and followed the game plan to a T but more than that, they came out and played with energy and effort and matched a very team,” San Juan Hills first-year coach Jay Williams said of his squad. “We have a lot of girls who haven’t had that experience yet.”
San Juan Hills outscored San Clemente 12-1 in the second quarter to lead 28-16 at half. In the second period, the Stallions forced nine turnovers and held the Tritons to 0 for 9 shooting from the floor.
But in the third, Anderson and Bryan each made three 3-pointers as San Clemente took a 42-38 lead.
In the fourth, the Tritons also featured their inside attack with junior Reese Tremper scoring four of her seven points off the bench.
“I do feel confident that we can attack from a lot of different ways,” San Clemente coach Kerri Husbands said of her team’s growth. “It’s a fun, well-balanced team.”
Shreeve expressed similar optimism with the postseason approaching.
“We’re excited for playoffs,” she said. “We’re going to give it whoever we play next.”
In the Trinity League:
Mater Dei 65, JSerra 44: Iowa signee Addison Deal scored 25 points and added seven rebounds, seven assists and six steals to lead the host and No. 1 Monarchs (25-2, 5-0) to their 19th consecutive league title.
