As a result, the Guards fell behind and couldn’t fight their way back in a 61-57 loss at Providence High.
“We just can’t think you can walk on the court and expect to win,” Bell-Jeff Coach Bryan Camacho said. “That’s why you play the games. You saw what happened [Saturday]. You have to back up that reputation with action.”
It is the second time the Guards have lost a semifinal game at Providence, as games are required to be played at an alternate site. In 2004, Bell-Jeff fell to Downey Calvary Chapel, 43-31.
Saturday’s loss doesn’t necessarily end the season for the Guards (24-6). There is still a chance the team could be invited to take part in the state tournament. State tourney brackets are set to be released Sunday.
Last season, Bell-Jeff became the only team in city history — in any sport — to capture a state championship.
The Guards — who won their third straight Santa Cruz League championship this season — definitely had their problems with Windward (18-9), which won an Olympic League title. They had the most trouble trying to contain 6-foot-6 sophomore Imani Stafford. Stafford was able to dominate inside the paint, scoring 21 points and hauling in 25 rebounds.
“You have to definitely give credit to Windward,” Camacho said. “They came in confident and they played a very good game. They were able to handle our defensive pressure, and that paid off.
“But we didn’t take care of the ball like we should have. Also, we had a chance to take it back at the end, but we just fell short.”
Trying to overcome a 13-point deficit in the early moments of the fourth quarter, Bell-Jeff made its comeback surge. It whittled down the lead to one, 57-56, with 2:33 remaining when Guards’ senior Julia Tani sank two free throws.
