Canyon Defeats Santiago, Faces Norco in Next Round

Canyon will go to the Southern Section quarterfinals for the first time in girls’ basketball after defeating Santiago, 60-36, in the second round of the Division II-AA playoffs on Saturday.

The Comanches will treat their quarterfinal like a championship game, said senior Meghan O’Neill, because they know their playoff journey likely ends in the following round against top-seeded Brea Olinda.

Canyon’s quarterfinal opponent, fourth-seeded Norco, defeated Perris, 66-54.

“If we beat Norco,” O’Neill said, “we’ll take that as a huge accomplishment because we know Brea’s waiting for us in the semifinals.”

Canyon used its press to force 11 first-quarter turnovers (of 32 total), scored the game’s first 16 points and took a 24-5 lead. The Comanches outscored Santiago, the Garden Grove League champion, 15-0 in the third quarter to take a 48-17 lead.

“The next game, we have to come out even harder,” O’Neill said, “and even harder after that.”

Canyon shot 31% from the field and Santiago 30%, but the Comanches took 77 shots to Santiago’s 40.

Paulette Seaman scored 23 for Canyon, and O’Neill had 12 points and eight steals. Both scored nine in the first quarter.

Stephanie Reupena led Santiago with 19 points and Kelly Chavez had 11.