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Kennedy’s girls basketball team continued to show its growth with freshman Ta’Niya Paul on Tuesday during a challenging Division IV first-round game in the CIF Southern California Regional.
Coming off their first CIF Southern Section title, the No. 12 seeded Fighting Irish played at No. 5 Palisades Charter, an Open Division qualifier in the LA City Section that hadn’t played since Feb. 12.
Kennedy proved ready for the test but lost 61-59 despite 33 points, 19 rebounds, three blocks and four assists from Paul.
The Fighting Irish players, who claimed the CIF-SS Division 7 championship on Saturday, received a standing ovation from their fans leaving the court.
“It’s been tremendous how the team has grown,” seventh-year Kennedy coach Nori Nishida said. “Early on in the season, we went through a (five)-game losing streak. (The season) could have gone the exact opposite way but they stuck with it. They persevered, and we had the support of the families, too.”
The Fighting Irish (20-13) led 34-23 at intermission as Megan Duong made her second buzzer-beating 3-pointer of the half.
In the third quarter, Palisades erupted for 27 points, including four 3-pointers, to push Kennedy into pursuit.
Trailing by 11 points going into the fourth period, Kennedy trimmed its deficit to three points several times in the quarter but couldn’t catch Palisades, whose students recently returned to campus after being displaced by fires in January 2025.
Kennedy’s Alyssa Lacorte sank a half-court shot at the buzzer.
“Everyone played their hearts out. We came here to win,” Paul said. “I’m very proud of what we did (this season). Very happy to be part of this moment.”
Guard Elly Tierney scored 18 of her 26 points in the second half to pace Palisades (13-13).
The Dolphins made 3 of 17 of their 3-pointers in the first half but sank their first three in the third period to finish 4 for 9 in the frame.
Palisades’s Olivia Lewis sank a pair of 3-pointers in the third and blocked a breakaway layup with 49 seconds left in regulation to preserve a 56-53 lead.
Paul made 11 of 15 shots from the floor, including a 3-pointer with about three seconds left to cut Palisades’ lead to 59-56.
“She’s a good player,” Palisades coach LeBre Merritt said of Paul. “For her being a freshman is highly impressive. Based off all the film I watched in last couple days, she’s the one who does everything for the team.”
In other Division 4 games:
Savanna 53, El Camino Real 39: Dyanna Cruz scored 16 points with 10 rebounds and five steals to lead the host Rebels, who play at top-seeded Marina on Thursday. Marina edged Escondido 57-55.
Godinez 57, Burroughs 38: Valeria Arcos scored 17 points and Valerie Esteban added 15 points to lead the host No. 2 Grizzlies, who host Oakwood on Thursday.
More results to come.
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