Berkeley High’s Lady Jackets girls basketball team didn’t lose heart in the state Division I championship on Saturday night, but they fell short in the end to the nation’s number one-ranked team, Mater Dei, 59-47.
Trailing by 16 after Mater Dei went on a 13-0 scoring tear at the end of the third quarter, Berkeley found the form that had taken it to the country’s number five rank. The team cut the margin to three points with 2:52 left in the game, 49-46, but Mater Dei held together for a solid finish.
The Lady Jackets were led by junior guard Elisha Davis with 16 points and senior forward Chairese Culberson (nine points, 15 rebounds). The strength of Mater Dei’s national player of the year, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (33 points, eight rebounds), however, proved decisive.
Berkeley finished the season 31-2.
Earlier in the day, the St. Mary-Berkeley’s girls team lost the finals of the state Division IV championship to Windward, 51-47. St. Mary-Berkeley finished the season 30-5.
