San Joaquin Delta women's hoops quest from 2020 continues with quarterfinals win

LEMOORE--It was a matchup of the California Community College State Players of the Year in North Region's Donja Payne of San Joaquin Delta and the South's Deajanae Harvey of Palomar. Harvey's 40-foot, third-quarter, buzzer beater, 3-pointer momentarily gave the South #4 Comets a 56-55 lead. But in the fourth quarter, it was the North #1 seed and state #1-ranked Mustangs' supporting cast that played tremendous halfcourt defense in defeating Palomar, 72-66, in the quarterfinals of the CCCAA Women's Basketball Championship on Thursday.

Delta advances to the state semifinals on Saturday as it will face South #2 Irvine Valley, a 56-48 winner over Butte in an earlier quarterfinal. The Mustangs were the favorites going into the 2020 state tournament at 29-1 and in the midst of a 22-game win streak before their hopes of a state title were dashed and the tournament abruptly cancelled due to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Delta (28-2) led 24-17 after one quarter and 38-33 at halftime before Palomar came back from a 7-point deficit to take the lead on Harvey's bomb. In the fourth quarter, Delta shut down the state's #2-ranked offense to no points over the first 4:42 of the period as Payne, All-State Second Team guard Alicia Jones, All-State Third Team guard Maya Chelini, and guards Trena Rathjen, Sarah Ruiz, and Breaana Grigsby silenced the high-octane Comets.

The Mustangs took their largest lead, 69-60, with a minute left before Palomar finally broke through with back-to-back treys by Harvey and Elexis Espina. Jones sank three free throws over the final 20 seconds to put the game away for Delta.

Earlier in the quarter, Jones hit a corner trey and Rathjen netted a 3 from the top of the circle to help Delta take over the momentum.

Jones led Delta with 19 points to go with seven rebounds and three steals while Chelini hit four 3-pointers as part of her 16 points. Payne picked up a double-double on 12 points and 13 rebounds and blocked three shots and Rathjen, who battled to reach loose balls all game, added 11 points and nine rebounds. 

For Palomar, Harvey was as advertised in totaling 23 points, eight rebounds, six steals and five assists and Sara Ahmadpour put on a long-range show with seven 3s (7-for-10) and also scored 23 points (and 10 boards).

The Comets season ended at 26-3 as Delta snapped their 16-game winning streak. Palomar has reached three of the last four state tournaments.

Release by Robert Lewis, for the CCCAA