|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Go to PASportsOnline.com for more local sports news.
—
Like so many others this season, South San Francisco tried to hang with Menlo-Atherton Saturday in the PAL Tournament girls championship game at Hillsdale High.
But it ended up a futile pursuit.
The score was 14-14 when M-A went on a 15-0 run in the second quarter to open a 14-point lead at halftime.
And then after South City star Brittney Cedeno went down with a knee injury in the opening minute of the third quarter, the Bears went on a 17-0 run to make it 50-22 and turned the game into laugher.
Menlo-Atherton went on to ease its way to a 60-41 victory for its 26th win in a row this season and third consecutive PAL Tournament championship.
Cedeno, the PAL North MVP, had five of South San Francisco’s seven first-half field goals.
Once she left the game any hope of a competitive contest went out the window.
“Talk about sucking all the life out of the gym,’’ South City coach Paul Carion said.
Menlo-Atherton (26-1) was led by PAL South MVP Greer Hoyem, who scored 18 points. Carly McLanahan and Ofa Sili scored 14 apiece.
McLanahan, the team’s shooting guard, made four 3-pointers. She moves over to point guard when Ilana Baer comes out of the game.
She welcomes the opportunity to set up teammates with passes out of her shooting guard slot.
McLanahan kick-started that 17-0 run in the third quarter by assisting on the first three baskets in the run — a fastbreak layup by Baer, a 3-pointer by Sili and a basket in the post by Hoyem.
“Our philosophy is to get open looks for each other,’’ McLanahan said. “I love the feeling of passing and getting the assist.’’
The run continued with a three-point play by Hoyem and another Hoyem bucket down on the block. It concluded with a fastbreak basket and 3-pointer by McLanahan.
M-A got a taste of competing with the section’s top programs in the Open Division playoffs last year and went 0-2.
This year the Bears are a lock to be included in the Open again. And this time they will go into it with more of an idea of what it’s all about.
“We’re really hoping that this year we come out and do some damage,’’ McLanahan said. “We have great leadership on this team. Everyone is more experienced and up for the challenge.’’
-
M-A’s Carly McLanahan scored 14 points and added a few key assists in the PAL title game. Photo by Lara Hoyem. -
M-A’s Greer Hoyem went for 18 points to lead the Bears past South City in the PAL title game Saturday. Photo by Lara Hoyem. -
Ofa Sili was again a key factor for the Bears Saturday night. Photo by Lara Hoyem. -
Megan Sparrow drives the lane while Carly McLanahan (30) is ready to support her. Photo by Lara Hoyem.
Redwood City attorney sues ‘First Amendment auditors’ after Menlo Park disputeApril 2, 2026 11:31 am
