UPDATE: In a thrilling finish, Santa Cruz High’s junior guard/forward Mila Conn secured a stunning victory over Los Altos with a last-second basket, clinching a 45-44 win during their opener at the 12th Annual Aptos High/Santa Cruz Warriors NorCal Invitational on December 11, 2023, at Kaiser Permanente Arena.
With only five seconds remaining, Conn converted a pull-up jumper after receiving a give-and-go pass from teammate Nadia Delgadillo. This decisive shot came moments after Los Altos senior guard Ella McFarlane made a corner 3-pointer, putting the Eagles ahead 44-43.
Santa Cruz’s impressive comeback was marked by a strong third quarter, where they outscored Los Altos 20-9, overcoming a halftime deficit of 20-13. Conn finished the game with 17 points and seven rebounds, while senior forward Karolina Espinosa contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds.
“It was a big win for us,” said Cardinals coach Todd Trowbridge. “To be able to finish this game the way we did felt pretty good.”
The victory not only boosts Santa Cruz’s record to 7-4 but also ensures they achieve a .500 win percentage in preseason, crucial for qualifying for the Central Coast Section playoffs. Los Altos, now 7-2 overall, narrowly missed a chance to tie the game with a last-second 3-pointer that failed to hit the mark.
McFarlane led the Eagles with an impressive 22 points, alongside eight rebounds and five steals. Freshman guard Taylor Ware also made a notable contribution with 12 points and four assists.
Looking ahead, Santa Cruz will face Half Moon Bay (6-2) in the semifinals on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.. Fans and followers of high school basketball are eagerly awaiting what promises to be another thrilling match, as the Cardinals aim to build on their momentum from this dramatic win.
Stay tuned for updates on the tournament and more stunning plays from this year’s Aptos High/Santa Cruz Warriors NorCal Invitational.
