Girls' basketball coach of the year: Alicia Komaki of Sierra Canyon
She came up with a winning formula to defeat Etiwanda and No. 1 Ontario Christian in the Southern Section Open Division championship.
To see the energy and determination Sierra Canyon coach Alicia Komaki showed during a do-or-die game for the Southern Section Open Division girls’ basketball title against No. 1-seeded Ontario Christian let everyone know she was ready for this long-anticipated moment. When it was over and Sierra Canyon had won at Toyota Arena, the feeling could not have been more fulfilling.
“I’ve never been more happy with a group of people,” she said. All season, the Trailblazers had been plodding along preparing for the inevitable matchup of No. 1 vs.
No. 2. Ontario Christian and Etiwanda had been the roadblocks in recent years in denying Sierra Canyon a chance to dance.
This time, Komaki wasn’t going to allow it to happen. With All-American Jerzy Robinson leaving everything she had on the court in her epic battle against All-American Kaleena Smith, Sierra Canyon prevailed 69-62. The Trailblazers also eliminated Etiwanda 66-62.