St. Anthony girls basketball wins CIF-SS Division 2AA championship with comeback against Moreno Valley
Junior Kadence Lloyd scores a game-high 22 points as the Saints win their first CIF-SS title since 2016
Ryann Bennett #4 of St. Anthony celebrates after defeating Moreno Valley 64-58 to win a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Head coach Ray Bennett of St. Anthony holds up the championship trophy after defeating Moreno Valley 64-58 to win a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
AZUSA — St. Anthony guards Ryann Bennett, MeLaiah Joseph and Kadence Lloyd were not going to be the reason their team did not win a CIF-Southern Section championship.
The Saints trailed by 15 points in the first quarter. However, the trio of Bennett, Joseph and Lloyd combined to score 49 points and played a pivotal role over the final three quarters, as the Saints grabbed the lead early in the fourth and held on for a 64-58 win against Moreno Valley in the Division 2AA championship game at Azusa Pacific University Friday night.
Lloyd scored a game-high 22 points, which included going 11 of 12 from the free-throw line, and added seven rebounds.
Ryann Bennett #4 of St. Anthony celebrates after defeating Moreno Valley 64-58 to win a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Dallyn Knox #5 of St. Anthony drives to the basket against Alaysha Mills #44 of Moreno Valley in the second half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Laila Hughes #2 of St. Anthony shoots against Moreno Valley in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kadence Lloyd #3 of St. Anthony drives to the basket against Moreno Valley in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kadence Lloyd #3 of St. Anthony shoots over Alaysha Mills #44 of Moreno Valley in the second half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kadence Lloyd #3 of St. Anthony shoots against Moreno Valley in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kadence Lloyd #3 of St. Anthony drives to the basket against Moreno Valley in the second half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Larry Wright of Moreno Valley rects against St. Anthony in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Laila Hughes #2 of St. Anthony drives to the basket against Moreno Valley in the second half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
McKenzie Gillman #34 of Moreno Valley reaches for the loose ball against St. Anthony in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Ryann Bennett, center, of St. Anthony celebrates with her teammates after defeating Moreno Valley 64-58 to win a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
McKenzie Gillman #34 of Moreno Valley shoots over Ryann Bennett #4 of St. Anthony in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
McKenzie Gillman #34 of Moreno Valley drives to the basket against Dallyn Knox #5 of St. Anthony in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kadence Lloyd #3 of St. Anthony shoots against Moreno Valley in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Larry Wright of Moreno Valley rects against St. Anthony in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Dallyn Knox #5 of St. Anthony drives o the basket against Moreno Valley in the second half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Laila Hughes #2 of St. Anthony drives to the basket against Moreno Valley in the second half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Dallyn Knox #5 of St. Anthony fights for the rebound against Niyah Thomas #3 of Moreno Valley in the second half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Ray Bennett of St. Anthony rects against Moreno Valley in the second half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Leiayjah Mills #0 of Moreno Valley shoots over Laila Hughes #2 of St. Anthony in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Ray Bennett of St. Anthony holds up the championship trophy after defeating Moreno Valley 64-58 to win a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Ryann Bennett #4 of St. Anthony celebrates after defeating Moreno Valley 64-58 to win a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
St. Anthony’s celebrates after defeating Moreno Valley 64-58 to win a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Leiayjah Mills #0 of Moreno Valley shoots over Laila Hughes #2 of St. Anthony in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
McKenzie Gillman #34 of Moreno Valley drives to the basket against St. Anthony in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Laila Hughes #2 of St. Anthony drives to the basket against Moreno Valley in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Laila Hughes #2 of St. Anthony drives to the basket against Leiayjah Mills #0 of Moreno Valley in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 2AA girls basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
“I told myself going into the game to not worry about the refs and just play through physicality,” Lloyd said. “I think by doing that I got to the free throw line.”
Bennett scored all 14 of her points, including three 3-pointers, in the second half. The UC Davis signee added seven rebounds and a team-high five assists.
Joseph scored 11 of her 13 points in the second quarter.
“This is where I wanted to be,” said Bennett, who noted that she never considered transferring despite St. Anthony missing the playoffs last season. “I wanted to stick with my team, bring Kadence in and bring the freshman in. I knew that we had a good chance.”
“It means a lot,” Joseph added. “I’m just glad we both stuck it through together to the end and got us a ring.”
The Saints (25-7) won their first CIF-SS title since 2016, when Bennett’s older sister Tayler was an All-CIF player for the team. St. Anthony is 5-0 all-time in CIF championship games, including 2-0 when the boys and girls programs are simultaneously playing for CIF titles.
Moreno Valley (28-5) was led by junior guard McKenzie Gillman, who scored 10 of her 17 points in the second quarter. Junior guard Leiayjah Mills had 15 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Bella Medina added 13 points.
St. Anthony trailed 8-2 midway through the first quarter before Lloyd’s nifty layup made it 8-4. Moreno Valley went on an 11-0 run, establishing a 19-4 lead with less than two minutes left in the first.
Back-to-back tough baskets by Lloyd made it 19-8. Sophomore guard Laila Hughes’ steal and buzzer-beating layup made it 19-10, as the Saints closed the first quarter on a 6-0 run.
St. Anthony freshman guard Ava Washington’s off-the-ball cut and layup made it 19-12. A 3-pointer by sophomore forward Dallyn Knox made it 19-15, which capped the team’s 11-0 run to get back into the game.
“I wasn’t flustered about the first quarter… Once we were able to weather that, the second quarter we got it a little closer,” St. Anthony coach Ray Bennett said.
Moreno Valley junior guard McKenzie Gillman’s layup made it 21-15, the Vikings’ first field goal in more than six minutes. Lloyd made two free throws to make it 21-17. Back-to-back corner 3-pointers by Joseph cut Moreno Valley’s lead to 26-23. A three-pointer play by Gillman made it 29-23. Gillman later drained a 3-pointer, her 10th point of the second quarter, which put Moreno Valley up 33-25 late in the second.
However, another corner 3-pointer by Joseph, right before the buzzer, made it 33-28 at halftime. Joseph had 11 points in the first half. Moreno Valley shot 52% from the field (13 of 25) in the first half.
“They were laying off me a bit and I’m glad Ryann and my teammates found me in the corner,” Joseph said.
Bennett’s layup, her first two points of the game, cut it to 33-30 early in the third quarter. However, Moreno Valley went on a 10-1 run, which was capped by Gillman’s second three-point play of the game.
The Saints trailed 43-34 midway through the third. Bennett drained back-to-back corner 3-pointers to pull within one, 43-42, late in the third.
“Coming out of halftime I knew that I was the main target to start the game. And at halftime, they were like ‘oh we don’t have to worry about her’ so I knew I had to ramp it up and get to the basket and start making shots so they would actually guard me,” Ryann Bennett said.
St. Anthony trailed 45-43 heading into the fourth quarter. The Saints took a 48-47 lead after Bennett drained another corner 3-pointer. Lloyd’s put back gave St. Anthony a 50-47 advantage.
Moreno Valley junior guard Niyah Thomas’ layup through contact made it 50-49. Lloyd responded with a 3-pointer, which put the Saints up 53-49. Bennett made one of two free throws to go 54-49. Hughes’ putback made it 56-51.
Vikings freshman center Alyasha Mills made two free throws to make it a 56-53 game. Hughes’ up-and-under layup pushed it back to 58-53. Hughes, who scored 10 points, added another isolation layup to up 60-54 with less than a minute to go.
The Saints led 63-58 with 7.8 seconds to go, before securing a 64-58 victory.
St. Anthony girls basketball wins the 2024 CIF-SS Division 2AA championship.
