The San Marino High girls’ basketball team embarked on a tough nonleague schedule to prepare themselves for a potentially arduous season.
An out-of-state trip and home tournament helped the Titans stay ready for Rio Hondo League contention and beyond into the CIF Southern Section playoffs.
Among the beneficiaries was junior Kailey Woo, whose first-team honors highlight San Marino’s all-Rio Hondo League selections to cap a season that stretched well into February.
Titans seniors Malia Yu and Chloe Lin earned second-team accolades, while senior Sophia Papadopulos was named honorable mention.
“It feels really good that a lot of our team was recognized for all-league,” Woo said. “Malia [Yu] and Chloe [Lin] also made [second team] all-league and I think that really shows how hard we worked this season and what all that hard work meant in the end. You know, we got really far, and I was really happy with how our season went.”
Woo averaged 13.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game in 22 games played. Being named first-team all-league was one of the junior’s highlights of the season.
“My dad and I have talked about setting goals and making all-league was definitely up there,” Woo said. “Also, being able to make it the second round of CIF was also really, really great and that was a really, really good game for us even though we lost.”
San Marino coach Elizabeth Reuter said the junior’s work ethic was a critical part in Woo’s success.
“I think that is something of a testament to just how hard she has worked all three years,” Reuter said. “I think you can make a case for some other years too, but I think she is finally being able to put things out there more and people have started to recognize her.”
Reuter also highlighted the impact the senior class had on the program during their time as a Titan.
“Those four girls have meant a lot to us as a team and as a program, leadership-wise and on the court,” Reuter said. “I think it was just a great little end to our season for them to be recognized and get some recognition from other coaches in the league, too. They should feel good about that.”
For the season, Lin tallied 8.6 points,4.7 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game in 25 games played, and Yu averaged 7.2 points, 2.3 assists and nine rebounds per game in 23 appearances.
San Marino finished 14-12 overall and fourth in the Rio Hondo League with a 4-6 record. The Titans went on the road in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA playoffs and defeated Valley Christian Academy 60-47 to advance to the second round. San Marino hosted Santa Paula in the second round with hopes of reaching the section quarterfinal, but the Titans were bested at home 42-34.
— Nathan Cambridge contributed to this story
First published in the April 18 issue of the San Marino Tribune
