The Murrieta Valley girl’s basketball team captured their first CIF title (division 2A) in school history at the Anaheim Convention Center on Friday. They defeated Culver City by a final score of 49-37. The Nighthawks who have been dominant in the playoffs turned in yet another solid performance.

"Anaheim is a huge gym and a big experience for us. There were a lot of nerves in the first quarter; second quarter we started to relax," Murrieta Valley head coach Scott Richards, Jr. said after the game.

On the outside the Nighthawks looked like a veteran team that was thriving under the spotlight. Ariana Hernandez opened the game’s scoring with a three and the Nighthawks took an early 11-7 first quarter lead with scoring from four of their five starters. She hit another one in the second quarter to lead all scorers by the break; Murrieta Valley led 23-18, after overcoming a four-point deficit. She ended the night with 10 points.

"She has shown amazing growth, great poise and maturity," said Richards of the sophomore point guard.

Hernandez’ ball-handling skills and decision-making were key throughout the game as the Nighthawks struggled some with the quick, aggressive press and half-court Centaurs’ defense. Murrieta Valley committed 19 turnovers, eight in the third quarter in which Culver City outscored Murrieta Valley, 9-8. Culver City scored 24 points off of turnovers.

The Nighthawks played very solid on defense. Murrieta Valley seniors Karen Wolf and Deshea Wilkes both grabbed double digit rebounds. While Culver City was held to just 24 percent shooting from the field.

Culver City was 7-of-28 from the floor in the first half, including only 2-of-9 from the 3-point arc. Centaurs’ shooters Taylor Tanita and Kelsey Ueda ended the night shooting 24.2% (15/62); fifteen of their points came from three’s, but they missed on 21-of-26 attempts.

"We are a very young team with only two players with varsity experience playing a team that worked very well together," said Culver City head coach Julian Anderson.

"Size was a difference," said point guard Tanita, "but we beat ourselves – we didn’t hit our shots." Tanita was 4-of-25, 2-of-16 from 3-pt range.

Murrieta Valley was much more efficient on offense. They were 2/3 from behind the arch and shot 40 percent from the field. Senior guard Aliah Marshall had a team high 14 points for the Nighthawks. Clutch free throws down the stretch helped secure the schools first CIF championship.

"I wanted to leave a legacy; everyone always remembers the first one!" senior Karen Wolf explained. "This is a goal we set, a progression over the last four years and a great thing for our program. For us seniors, this is a great way to cap off our season and our careers – a CIF Championship!"

She is right about that. This Murrieta Valley team has now set the standard for future teams. But underclassman Ariana Hernandez now knows what it takes, "I’m excited about being a CIF Champion – I can’t wait until next year!"

"We’re going across the street to Disneyland!" joked a grinning Richards.