Roseville makes playoffs, wins play-in game

Last season, Roseville High's varsity girls basketball team went 1-11 in league play and won only five games overall. This season, the Tigers turned things around in a new league, going 8-4 in the Foothill Valley, and won 12 games and Monday won the play-in game to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs over Lindhurst 45-41. It's a remarkable leap for a team of eight players with only one senior. "It's huge and I'm happy," Roseville coach Justin Keller said. "I joked because I don't want to be greedy but I thought we should have been seeded higher," said Keller of the team's 16th seed. "I'm happy for the girls. We're trying to build excitement and hype to get kids who want to join the team and be involved. I'm excited because some jucos are looking at my senior, Calee Bookhart, and last year she didn't even want to play college ball." Against Lindhurst, the Tigers had the ultimate test: Win what was essentially a playoff game without their senior and team leader, Bookhart. She sustained a sprained ankle only minutes into the game and did not return. Not only that, freshman point guard Maiya Lawas played only two and half quarters because of foul trouble. "It was a test of my soul and of my bench," Keller said jokingly. "We played without Calee and Maiya fouled out in the beginning of the third quarter and got her third foul in the second quarter." Fortunately for the Tigers, the team played a great first quarter, which made all the difference in the world, as they led 18-5. That was big because the Tigers were outscored in each of the remaining three quarters individually and collectively 36-27. Lawas scored five points in the first quarter, while Isabella Senini scored four. "We were up by 10 most of the game," Keller said. "With Calee and Maiya out, Ashlyn Kelley and Emelia Musquez were in there with players who haven't played much all season. "Heaven Van Steen stepped up a lot. She came in and knocked down Calee's two free throws and pretty much played the rest of the game. Emily Gaines, she stepped up and did what I needed her to do. She played good defense without fouling and didn't turn the ball over on offense. This is a girl that probably averaged two minutes a game. It was a true team effort. "I'm really proud of my bench. It's the perfect example of to always be ready because you never know when you're number is going to be called." Musquez led the Tigers with 21 points, while Lawas scored 11. "They decided to put their big on Isabella, so I moved her out to the wing and then Emelia ate up the guard that was defending her inside the paint," Keller said. "That was key. I also thought Ashlyn did a great job leading the team in the fourth quarter." The Tigers lost to Colfax 67-27 on Tuesday.