Nihoa Dunn (left) of Hawaii was named the Jim Capoot Memorial Award winner at the 2025 West Coast Jamboree. At right is David “Scoop” Jackson MVP award winner Sadie Sin of Platinum Division champion Clovis. Photo: Harold Abend.
State Top 20 team tops Hawaii team in prestigious Bay Area tourney’s Platinum Division title game behind MVP Sadie Sin. The Cougars also avenged an earlier loss in the semifinals. Their league rivals from Central East won the third-place game with Villa Park taking the consolation crown.
For the first time in 25 years in the history of the West Coast Jamboree girls basketball tournament, which has been contested since 2000, and in an exciting finish, a team from the CIF Central Section has captured the tournament’s top division. That team is Clovis after the Cougars pulled out a Platinum Division 56-53 victory on Tuesday night over Hawaii Kamehameha Kapalana of Honolulu.
Sadie Sin, a senior point guard who in mid-November committed to Long Beach State, was selected as the Platinum Division winner of the David “Scoop” Jackson Most Valuable Player Award named in honor of the late founder of the West Coast Jamboree.
Sin scored the game’s first nine points and finished with 19 points (one three-pointer, five rebounds, five assists and three steals). She was also was 8-of-9 from the free-throw line, including hitting two that helped secure the win with less than 20 seconds remaining with Kamehameha having to foul and Clovis holding a razor thin 52-51 lead.
Senior Yazmin Aguilera was the only other Clovis player to reach double-figure scoring and finished with 10 points, including two three-pointers and two free throws with two seconds left and the Cougars holding a 54-53 lead.
After Sin staked Cal-Hi Sports No. 19 ranked Clovis (9-6) to a 9-0 lead, the Cougars stretched it to 23-7 at the end of the first quarter and the first of four 19-point leads at 36-17 at the half.
The last of the 19-point leads came at 42-23 in the early third quarter, but the relentless defense of Kamehameha, which had come from 10 down at the half in its semifinal 50-43 win over Central East of Fresno, never quit. In fact, the Warriors from the Rainbow State held Clovis to no field goals and only seven free throws in the fourth quarter after closing to 49-36 at the end of the third.
While Sin and Aquilera were the only double-figure scorers, Clovis head coach Cooper Steele got contributions from six other players, particularly in the first three quarters when the Cougars were building their lead. Senior Milly Rojas added seven points (one three-pointer) and junior Amieya Walters chipped in with six points, including a three-pointer.
Kamehameha (15-5) got a huge game from 6-foot-1 senior power forward/center and reining Hawaii Gatorade Player of the Year Nihoa Dunn. Dunn, who led Iolani to its first state championship last season since 2013, finished with a double-double 26 points and 11 rebounds, including 17 in the second half when she was unstoppable in the paint, but Kamehameha dug too big a hole and despite her efforts the team fell just short. For her overall efforts, Dunn was named the recipient of the Jim Capoot Memorial Award for sportsmanship and inspirational play.
Sophomore guard Andrea Porreca added 13 points (three three-pointers) but only five players scored and the other three only able to muster 14 points.
While Kamehameha made a big comeback against Central East to get to the championship game, Clovis avenged a 59-56 loss to Priory of Portola Valley three weeks ago with a 44-30 semifinal victory in a game the Cougars only trailed twice in the first quarter by one point each time in a game where the final margin of victory was their biggest lead of the game. In a low scoring defensive battle, it was Sin leading the way with 11 points. Sophomore Jada Walton and senior Jaylyn Jasso added nine and seven points, respectively.
The third-place game saw Central East (8-6) post a 49-44 victory over Priory. Sophomore post Za Murphy led the way with 16 points, and Savana Chris added 14 points including four three-pointers and Leilah Haynes had 11 points with one three-pointer.
Priory (6-4) got 18 points from junior Sasha Johnson and 11 points with three three-pointers from senior Adelaide Chan.
After losing its opening round game to Kamehameha, 63-37, Villa Park (14-3) rebounded to best Oakland Tech 56-50, and then in the Consolation Championship took down Valencia 67-62 in an all Southern California match-up. Bailey Roczey and Lauren Wolfe each had 16 points and Olivia Sturdivant added 15 points.
In the Diamond Division, the second of the Jamboree’s elite divisions along with the Platinum, it was host Clayton Valley of Concord (6-4) overpowering Caruthers (7-4), 63-44.
Harold Abend is the associate editor of CalHiSports.com and the vice president of the California Prep Sportswriters Association. He can be reached at marketingharoldabend@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @HaroldAbend
