Mitty vs. Clovis West: America's top two girls basketball teams face off for California state title

Video: Xcellent 25 girls basketball rankings
Myckena Guerrero breaks down all of the top girls basketball teams in the country.

SACRAMENTO — They met once before and it came down to a single point. That was way back on Dec. 10 in Hawaii.

And now the girls basketball teams from Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) and Clovis West (Fresno) meet in Sacramento for the CIF California Open Division title at beautiful Golden 1 Center, new home of the Sacramento Kings.

National rankings are also at stake. Mitty enters No. 5 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Girls Basketball Rankings, presented by the Army National Guard. Clovis West is No. 7.

In the MaxPreps National Girls Basketball Computer Rankings, presented by the Army National Guard, this is for a national crown. Mitty (28-2) is No. 1 and Clovis West (32-2) is No. 2.

Follow the game Saturday with LIVE play-by-play at 6 p.m.

When asked to break down Clovis West, Mitty coach Sue Phillips sounded like she was reviewing her own squad.

Diversified. Balanced. Deep. Multiple college signees. Well-coached. Authentic team chemistry.

"I guess that does sound a little like us," she said.
Clovis West (33-2) features five seniors who have secured scholarships: 6-foot-1 forward Megan Anderson (San Jose State), 5-4 point guard Danae Marquez (SJS), 5-9 guard Sarah Bates (UC Santa Barbara), 6-0 post Bre'yanna Sanders (Arizona State) and 6-foot forward Tess Amundsen (Boise State).

Madison Campbell, a 5-11 sophomore, is Clovis West coach Craig Campbell's daughter and a top recruit as well.

Mitty (28-2) counters with seniors Heleyna Hill, a 5-6 guard headed to San Jose State, 5-11 forward Madeline Holland (St. Mary's College), 6-2 post Tahlia Garza (UC Irvine) and 5-10 guard Daniella Guglielmo (UC Irvine). Haley Jones, a 6-1 sophomore, and 6-foot junior Karisma Ortiz, are major Division I recruits.

"They are a major challenge both offensively and defensively," said Phillips. "We have to take care of the ball and can't bail them out at the basket with fouls. They shoot free throws very well also. It is very much like going against a mirror image of ourselves."

In the first meeting between the two, it was back-and-forth before Mitty won 76-75 in overtime at the championship game of the Nike Iolani Classic in Hawaii. The difference in that one was Mitty 5-3 junior guard Krissy Miyahara, who drilled eight 3-pointers — all in the first half — and scored 24 points.

"That was a long time ago," said Phillips, who has 638 wins and captured 20 Central Coast Section, 12 NorCal and six state titles. "I'm sure they're much different and much improved. I think we are. It's going to be a fantastic game."