SACRAMENTO, CA (YSBC) - The Faith Christian Lions girls basketball team stayed perfect at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento as they defeated the Bret Harte Bullfrogs 52-38 on Saturday, Feb. 28 in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V final.

Faith Christian appeared in the last three SJS D VI finals and due to continued success, the Lions were moved up to the D-V bracket this year.

Bret Harte won the Division V bracket last season.

The Lions opened the game with an 8-0 run that lasted the first four minutes of the game as the Bullfrogs offense struggled to hit anything early on.

Faith Christian defense was gritty and caused chaos early on for Bret Harte.

Faith Christian senior Lauren Harris (5) puts up a shot on Saturday, Feb. 28 during the Lions’ win over Bret Harte. Photo by Chris Pedigo

Lions senior Presley Berry had a strong presence inside the paint during the first quarter as she drove to the basket and forced her way to the free-throw line.

Berry had 14 total free-throw attempts in the victory on Saturday, as she finished with 15 points and five rebounds.

Berry drew nine total fouls in the game as she nailed 11 of the charity-stripe opportunities.

Faith Christian led 15-10 at the end of the first and both teams struggled from the score in the second quarter as they combined for 14 points and shot 18% from the floor.

The Lions took a 24-15 lead at the half as Berry and fellow senior Lauren Harris had 10 points each.

Harris finished with a game-high 27 points and 17 rebounds, but she expressed to Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports that it wasn’t her best day, but with the trust in her teammates, Faith Christian wasn’t going to be denied their third section title in three years.

Faith Christian senior Lauren Harris (5) dribbles the ball down court during the Lions’ win on Saturday, Feb. 28 against Bret Harte. Photo by Steven Bryla

Harris credited her fellow starters, which includes juniors Mandy Fitzgerald and Mia Bryan and senior Hannah Hessong.

During the postgame press conference, Lions head Geoff Harris said that he was so proud of the team and how they aren’t a one-dimensional team.

Faith Christian hung onto the lead and clinched their third-blue banner in the past four years.

Bret Harte cut the Lions lead to four points with a little more than three minutes in the third, but Faith Christian quickly got their lead back to double digits early in the fourth.

Fitzgerald and Hessong deserve a lot of the credit as everyone else on the team as they contribute heavily in their rules.

The Harris’s both told YSBC that Fitzgerald and Hessong are intricate parts of the success the Lions have had throughout the years.

Faith Christian senior Presley Berry (21) puts up a shot on Saturday, Feb. 28 in the Lions’ victory over Bret Harte. Photo by Steven Bryla

“They are in it for the team and will do whatever it takes,” Geoff said.

He joked during the postgame press conference that it can’t be a championship game without Fitzgerald having some type of injury.

Fitzgerald played the game with a dislocated thumb and endured a bloody nose during the game against the Bullfrogs.

“You can’t ask for better teammates than Mandy and Hannah to support everyone, play their role,” Geoff said.

Faith Christian senior Hannah Hessong (15) dives for a loose ball on Saturday, Feb. 28 during the Lions’ win against Bret Harte. Photo by Steven Bryla

Berry expressed to the media that she believes that Faith Christian has practiced like.

Championship team all season and they are going to focus on one win at a time. She added they’re gonna give it all for one last run.

The CIF released their State Championship brackets on Sunday, and the Lions were given the No. 1 overall seed in the Division IV bracket.

Faith Christian hosted Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park) on Tuesday night.

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