Carondelet Girls Win State Basketball Championship Again

CONCORD, CA (Mar. 19, 2025) — With the clock ticking under one minute remaining in the girls California State Division I high school basketball championship game, Carondelet found itself one point behind Sage Hill of Newport Beach. The Cougars from Concord then sank four consecutive free throws in the final seconds to hold off the Southern California champions and win their second-ever CIF basketball title, matching the exploits of the 2003-04 team led by future McDonald’s High School and Stanford All-America Jayne Appel, then just a sophomore.

Sophomore Celeste Alvarez had put Carondelet ahead by four with 94 seconds remaining on a three-point basket before Sage Hill retook the lead as Amalia Holguin, the last member of the late Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Five still playing high school ball, drained a three and assisted on a layup to give the SoCal champs a one-point advantage in the final minute of play. That is when Carondelet’s junior defensive stars Layla Dixon and Oliva Smith each calmly made those four free throws for the final 51-48 score to cap the 30th win of the season for the Concord school.

Coach Kelly Sopak, who took over the program in the spring of 2020, celebrated his first state championship after losing the State Open finale in 2016 when future collegiate and pro superstar Sabrina Ionescu led his unbeaten Miramonte team to the championship game but were defeated by Chaminade. Sopak expressed his emotions after the game, stating, “I feel a lot of relief and it feels great.”

This year’s Carondelet team won six consecutive games in the playoffs after earlier losing twice to league rival San Ramon Valley in both the East Bay Athletic League conference tournament and the semi-finals of the North Coast Section Open Division playoffs. The Cougars rebounded to win the NCS Open third-place game and received the second seed in the Northern California D-I playoffs.

Carondelet marched through their path to the championship, defeating four NorCal opponents to reach the school’s fifth State championship game. Since winning the 2004 finale, Carondelet teams fell short of another title in 2006, 2009, and 2010 before breaking back through this year. Carondelet’s historical win marks the fourth state team championship for the school, with previous titles coming in cross country in 1996 and 2006, as well as basketball in 2004.

In the boys’ competition, De La Salle made it to the Northern California Open Division championship game after winning the EBAL and NCS playoff titles, led by senior Alec Blair. Unfortunately, Riordan of San Francisco staged a 20-4 run to overtake the Spartans, who last led by one at halftime, finishing their season at 28-5 after having their six-game win streak in conference and playoff games stopped by Riordan.

Clayton Valley Charter had its own ups and downs this season. They were top seed in NCS Division I but were eliminated in the semi-finals by California of San Ramon. Coming off NCS Division I championships in 2022 and 2023, they found themselves seeded eighth in NorCal Division II this year, but made an impressive showing, bouncing top-seeded Rocklin 68-54 in the quarterfinals before falling to Destiny Christian Academy of Sacramento in the semi-finals.

The victory for Carondelet is one that comes with a significant feeling of closure; their quarter-final win at NorCal over Bishop O’Dowd was especially satisfying because the Dragons knocked off Carondelet in last year’s finale, denying them a state finals berth.

Carondelet's championship victory also shines a light on Coach Sopak’s contributions to the program. Sopak was named one of the 100 Most Impactful People in Women’s College Basketball last month, underscoring his influence and the quality of the program he runs. His Cal Stars AAU program has sent over 250 young women to college programs since its founding in 2006, demonstrating a commitment to fostering young talent.

As Carondelet celebrates this monumental achievement, they also look ahead to the future. Coach Sopak, losing just three seniors from this season’s roster and with five freshmen and sophomores on the squad, is excited about the prospects for the next chapter in their basketball journey. His team's resilience and determination throughout the playoffs have set a new standard for Carondelet basketball, one characterized by grit and passion.

The Cougars’ triumph in the championship reflects a broader narrative of perseverance not only in sports but also in the community that supports them. The path to this victory, especially amid the backdrop of the previous shortcomings in playoff runs, encapsulates the spirit of sport and competition, capturing the essence of what high school athletics is meant to represent.

As the celebration unfolds for the Carondelet Cougars, their victory is set against the ongoing backdrop of a vibrant high school basketball landscape in Northern California. Not only does this championship serve as a reminder of Carondelet's storied legacy in high school sports, but it also emphasizes the importance of community support, teamwork, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.