With victory margins ranging from 40-point blowouts to single-digit nail-biters, the Diamond Bar High School girls basketball team has dominated in the regular season and has high hopes for the playoffs.
The girls finished the regular season as back-to-back undefeated Hacienda League Champions, boasting a 22-4 overall record and 10-0 league record supported by a nine-game win streak to close out the year. According to MaxPreps, they are ranked #8 in the CIF-Southern Section Division 2A and just outside the top 100 in the state as of Feb. 1.
The Brahmas’ ability to press their opponents and force turnovers on defense has been a notable factor in their success this year. Additionally, rising stars such as freshman guard Jasmine Ruiz and senior forward Maia Pak have contributed valuable minutes to the team’s rotation aside from the core starters.
“Jasmine is a knockdown shooter and has a lot of time to grow as a player since she is a freshman,” senior guard and captain Morgan Seshiki said. “Maia has really shown defensive intensity and is able to guard the post players on the opposing teams.”
Earlier in the season, the girls had struggled to secure rebounds due to the smaller stature of their team, but they have since seen dramatic improvement in this aspect of their gameplay. Nonetheless, the team still sees room for improvement when it comes to pacing, as they often rush their offensive scheme in the heat of the moment.
“With the different plays that we have, we have a lot of freedom to create and find multiple ways to score,” Seshiki said. “We just have to be patient with the ball and be able to make the extra pass when needed.”
Building on the momentum from the closing stretch of the regular season, the Brahmas are seeking a deep playoff run. To prepare themselves for the games that lie ahead, the team is continuing to implement a variety of offensive and defensive drills into their practices to imitate in-game scenarios.
“We hope to go as far as we can in CIF and end the year on a good note,” Seshiki said.
