The Gunn girls basketball team, already with a section title and an upset victory against No. 1 regional seed on its resume, couldn't buck Berkeley's rich tradition.
Nor could it stop Yellowjackets' star Rachel Howard.
Howard scored 27 points Tuesday night to help Berkeley defeat the host Titans 54-46 in a Northern California Division I regional semifinal game. The Yellowjackets are headed to the regional title game for the fourth consecutive year.
"It started with the last game against McClymonds when my shot wasn't falling," the USF-bound Howard said. "It really frustrated me. But at practice I just went by myself into the other gym and just said 'Get your shot back.' My (assistant) coach (Anna Johnson) just kept telling me 'Every time you shoot the ball, you have to know it's going in.' "
Gunn (21-7) opened shakily, missing its first nine shots and a pair of free throws as Berkeley surged to a 9-0 lead. The Titans didn't score until there were 11.6 seconds left in the first quarter on a pair of free throws by Megan Mahoney.
Titans coach Sarah Stapp thought the big stage of the regional semifinal might have played a part.
"I think they rattled us a little bit (defensively)," Stapp said. "We've been to this game before, but I think they felt a little bit of the pressure of the big crowd and getting to the next level. We were thinking a little too much about that instead of just playing the game."
Howard had 15 points by halftime, including making two 3-pointers. The Titans trailed 26-18 at the half and were down 39-28 after three quarters. But in the fourth quarter, Gunn started chipping away.
Titan point guard Claire Klausner was shut out in the first half, but scored 15 second-half points to fuel the rally. Backed by an enthusiastic cheering section, Gunn got within 41-35 on two free throws by Zoe Zwerling with 5:23 left, but Berkeley answered with a putback by Desire Finne and a short jumper by Howard to stay safely in front.
"We needed to get one more stop," Stapp said. "When they needed a big bucket, they got a big bucket. But I'm proud of this team. They're a great group of kids and I'm sad that it's over."
Also slightly teary eyed was Klausner, who will play softball at Princeton next year.
"Playing basketball here the past four years has been so huge for me," Klausner said. "It's been a great opportunity to play for Miss Stapp. The girls on the team aren't really ones that I'm friends with in school, but we were still like all a family. We just all get along so well and I think what we've done for this school and this program has been amazing.
"When you think that we've made it to the semifinals of NorCal two years in a row, it's kind of crazy because none of us are like big basketball stars. If we were all on different teams none of us would be anything special, but together we worked really well."
Berkeley (21-11) will now face Oak Ridge Saturday at 2 p.m. at Sleep Train Arena for the Division I NorCal title and a berth in the state championship game.
Berkeley coach Cheryl Draper said her team has improved dramatically from the start of the season.
"We're a rebuilding team with no experience," she said. "Rachel Howard and Desire Finne are the only ones with any varsity experience. This is a good JV team, by Berkeley standards. Now that they've been thrown to the wolves for 20-some games, they're starting to pick it up and learn."
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John Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@Prep2Prep.com.
