The Faith Christian Lions won the CIF Division IV State Championship on Saturday, March 14 with a 51-39 victory over Palisades. Photo by Chris Pedigo

SACRAMENTO, CA (YSBC) - The Faith Christian Lions girls’ basketball team capped off the 2025-26 season with a storybook finish as they defeated the Palisades Dolphins 51-37 on Saturday, March 14.”

Faith Christian claimed its first CIF State Championship in program history, but this was the second-straight year they have been winners in the final game of their season.

The Lions won the CIF Division VI NorCal Championship last season, but that was the furthest they could play in the state tournament as there is no current D-VI State Championship.

On Saturday, the Faith Christian faithful took over the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento as the lower bowl of the stands had plenty of blue and yellow represented all-around it.

Faith Christian junior Mia Bryan (11) lays the ball up on Saturday, March 14 during Lions’ win over Palisades. Photo by Chris Pedigo

Palisades established their presence on the glass early on as they had multiple offensive rebounds in the first half that led to multiple second-chance opportunities.

The Dolphins had 21 total offensive rebounds during the game and out rebounded the Lions by 10 total in the game, but Faith Christian had more heart and wanted the game more.

Faith Christian senior Lauren Harris gave the Lions a 13-11 lead at the end of the first as she heaved a buzzer-beating three from a few steps inside from three-quarters of the court.

Harris expressed to the media after the game that it wasn’t luck, it was practiced.

Palisades senior Elly Tierney (4) launches a three in the Dolphins’ defeat to Faith Christian on Saturday, March 14. Photo by Steven Bryla

She added that her and her teammates each had the opportunity to throw up a half-court shot on Friday’s last practice and none of them made it in the first try.

Harris said that she couldn’t end on a miss and had a good feeling about the shot she threw up at the end of the first.

Harris led the game with 26 points and 16 rebounds.

In the first half, Lions junior Mia Bryan hit her first career milestone as she achieved 1,000 career points.

Bryan said Harris and senior Presley Berry have been huge inspiration and had a heavy impact on her high-school career.

The Faith Christian Lions celebrates after the games end in the victory over Palisades on Saturday, March 14. Photo by Steven Bryla

“Seeing their posters up there every day of 2,000 (Berry points) and 3,000 (Harris points), we were just missing 1,000,” Bryan said. “Were the big three and as it’s completed, I’m very grateful.”

Faith Christian took a 29-26 lead at the half and it wouldn’t get any closer then that as Palisades went ice cold from the floor in the second half where they shot 13% in the second half and scored 11 points the rest of the game.

The Lions took an early double-digit lead and held onto the ball for long possessions that chewed time off the clock.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock and the Faith Christian fans and team went wild, tears were shed across the floor.

Lions head coach Geoff Harris has called this a generational team in previous interviews, and he opened the postgame press conference with words he uses every time talking about this Faith Christian squad of saying how proud he is of the group.

“I don’t think there is a better ending to the story for this team,” Geoff said.

He added that for sports Faith Christian hasn’t been a name that you’ve seen mentioned prior to a few years ago.

Geoff said that people can appreciate how rare it is that this group has accomplished along the way.

Faith Christian senior Lauren Harris launches a three-point shot on Saturday, March 14 in the Lions’ victory against Palisades. Photo by Chris Pedigo

The list that this Lions team has accomplished is a long list and there will probably never be another small school to achieve this in a four-year period.

Faith Christian has had a record of 115-15 over the last four seasons, four-straight Sacramento Metropolitan Athletic League championships and appearances in CIF Sac-Joaquin Section finals.

The Lions have three-SJS section banners, two NorCal plaques and added a CIF D-IV Championship on Saturday.

Faith Christian had a 3,000-point scorer (Harris), 2,000-point scorer (Berry) and a 1,000-point scorer (Bryan). The Lions also had three players (Harris, Berry and senior Hannah Hessong) accomplish more than 500 rebounds in their career.

The accomplishments this team has made throughout the four years would not have been possible if everyone didn’t buy into their role and that has been expressed through multiple conversations throughout the season.

Lauren told Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports the memories she will miss most with her teammates are all of the practices they had with one another.

As this closed the door on the 2025-26 basketball season, we would like to send our deepest appreciation to the Faith Christian community and basketball staff for always giving us your good graces and allowing us to share the special story of this team and community.

For more sports coverage on local schools, visit ysbcsports.com.