SEAN M. HAFFEY / Union-Tribune
Looking for a little respect, Patrick Henry's girls got more than that last night. Behind 23 points from Tiffany Klein (above), the Patriots rolled to a 59-39 Division I first-round win over perennial section playoff participant Rancho Bernardo.
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Looking for a little respect, Patrick Henry's girls got more than that last night.
Led by Tiffany Klein's 23 points, the Patriots rolled to a 59-39 Division I first-round win over perennial section playoff participant Rancho Bernardo before a large partisan gathering.
Although they won their last nine regular-season games and captured their first league title since 1984, the host Patriots (24-5, 12-0 Eastern) earned only a No. 6 seed.
Drawing Rancho Bernardo (11-17), which was participating in its 19th straight playoff opener, had all the ingredients of another early exit.
But Klein and junior Emily Osga, who scored 18 points, would have none of it even after Rancho Bernardo jumped to a 10-9 first-quarter lead.
“A lot of people were telling us, 'You guys will lose,' ” said Klein. “The school has had a reputation of losing big games. Our goal tonight was to make it past the first round.”
The Patriots could go further, too, if they respond like they did in the second quarter last night.
Urged by coach Nick Bertaux to play better defense, Henry did not allow a point for the first 6:04 while rolling off 11 straight themselves. After the Broncos finally managed a field goal, the Patriots added seven more to forge a 27-12 halftime lead with the 18-2 spree.
When Henry padded the lead by outscoring Rancho Bernardo by seven in the third quarter, the Patriots were able to cruise.
“We needed to pass the ball better, play defense and keep up the intensity,” said Klein, who scored 12 of her points in the third quarter. “We didn't think we'd go undefeated in league. We just hoped we'd win. We expected to be in the playoffs.
“Last year we got eliminated in the first round. This feels a lot better.”
Rancho Bernardo got 17 points from Stephanie Bishop, four more than her average, but eight of those came on a pair of long threes and a pair of free throws in the first quarter.
The Broncos did not help themselves by turning the ball over 26 times.
Henry will be on the road for a quarterfinal game Saturday night against third-seeded Eastlake, a 75-35 winner over Helix.
Klein already found a reason to be optimistic, noting that Bonita Vista beat Eastlake twice and that the Patriots own a victory over the Barons this season.
Steve Brand: (619) 293-1854; steve.brand@uniontrib.com
