NATOMAS, Calif. – St. Francis won the CIF NorCal Division I Championship Saturday with a 66-52 come-from-behind victory over Castro Valley. 

“They laid it all on the line the last 16 minutes,” said Head Coach Vic Pitton, the Delta League Coach of the Year. “They played very hard in the first half but we just could not make our shots. We were not accounting for No. 15 (Nina Bessolo). That is the only charge I gave them at the half was to keep shooting and have a bit more patience on offense to create some seams to attack in their zone.”

St. Francis trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half after Castro Valley went on an 11-0 run to take a 26-11 lead. Bessolo had 18 of her game-high 20 points in the first half for the Trojans. They cut the deficit with a mini run but still trailed by 12 at the break.

“We told them to believe and keep the faith,” said Pitton.

Senior Tia Hay had 12 of her team-high 17 points in the half but the team made just 7-of-38 from the field and was 1-of-14 beyond the arc.

“We decided we were not going to give up and we picked up our composure,” said senior Lauren Craig, who had 16 points and 11 rebounds. “We were more aggressive and our shots started going in.”

Junior Janae Fairbrook hit three triples in the third quarter with the final one giving St. Francis its first lead at 45-44 to end the quarter. The Troubadours outscored Castrol Valley 27-14 in the quarter overall after scoring just 18 points in the first half.

“She has been so outstanding extending her range and shooting the three,” said Pitton of Fairbrook. “She is absolutely cold-blooded as a shooter. Right now, she believes in her shot and it is helping us extend defenses and it opened up further opportunities on the inside.”

Fairbrook finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and six steals. Senior Kyra Huffman added a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.

“She was unbelievable and she was hitting her threes,” said Hay. “She kept shooting and it went in.”

Craig added nine points over the third period and knocked down her own three-pointer as the momentum swung heavily towards the Troubies.

Pitton also credited Julia Razo for her efforts in the game off the bench.

St. Francis continued the pressure in the fourth, holding the Trojans to just 2-of-13 from the field and eight total points to send the team to the CIF State Championship game on Thursday.

“It is unbelievable and crazy,” said Hay, who was one assist shy of a triple double with 17 points, 11 boards and nine assists. “It is a dream come true considering we came back from a big deficit. To come back and stay positive and keep pushing, it is an amazing feeling we have so much confidence in our team.”

St. Francis (29-5) will play Brea Olinda (28-4), who beat Troy 52-45 in the Division 1 Southern California Championship game. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 24.

“It feels amazing and I am so excited that we won,” said Craig. “It is the best way to end my senior year.”

Tickets are $16 for adults and $10 for children and students. Time Warner Cable will broadcast all games LIVE on TWC SportsNets-LIVE.  Additionally, all games will be LIVE streamed both days for FREE on twccommunity.com.

St. Francis 66, Castro Valley 52	1	2	3	4	F
Castro Valley	18	12	14	8	52
St. Francis	11	7	27	21	66

SF – Hay 17, Craig 16, Fairbrook 14, Craig 11, Ortiz 2, Nicolos 2, Koerwitz 2, Razo 2. CV – Besselo 20, Wright 11, Starks 7, Jones 6, Burnama 4, Massey 2, Greer 2.

Schedule - Thursday, March 24

10:00 a.m.  Division V Girls – Village Christian vs. Eastside College Prep

12:00 p.m.  Division V Boys – St. Bernard vs. St. Joseph Notre Dame

2:00 p.m.    Division III Girls – Lakeside vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral

4:00 p.m.    Division III Boys – Ayala vs. Manteca

6:00 p.m.    Division I Girls – Brea Olinda vs. St. Francis

8:00 p.m.    Division I Boys – Crespi Carmelite vs. Berkeley