Watch: Sierra Canyon girls basketball practices against JV boys to improve its game

Sierra Canyon girls' practice against the boys junior varsity team and do more than hold their own

Coaches are always trying to find an edge and make their teams better. However, Sierra Canyon girls basketball coach Alicia Komaki does something very rarely seen at the high school level.

They scrimmage the junior varsity boys basketball team.

"I didn't do it much last year because I didn't think that team needed it," Komaki said. "But we'll do it more this year because this team needs it."

It's normal to see in college with women's basketball, especially at the NCAA Division I level. Programs have male scout teams - usually students at the school - to challenge their players and create a better comfortability with an opponent that might be bigger, faster and/or stronger.

"It's a challenge of mindset, too," Komaki said. "These girls all know each other, they learn each other's moves, they cheat to take advantage where they can. So, when we bring the boys in, the girls can't do that because teenage boys are generally more athletic and physical."

"We get more out of a practice when they team is challenged. Scrimmaging the junior varsity boys does that for us," Komaki added.

Sierra Canyon's girls team is competitive and talented, especially with Mackenly Randolph, Izela Arenas and super sophomore Jerzy Robinson. Randolph and Arenas are both top 100 players in the 2024 class. Randolph is No. 21, according to ESPN. Robinson is the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 class.

Mackenly Randolph, 5-star forward, down to Notre Dame, Michigan State, Louisville

Arenas is used to playing against boys, growing up playing against younger brother Alijah Arenas (2026), who is a 5-star recruit himself at Chatsworth High.

"I'm used to it. I beat him all the time," Arenas said.

The ladies do more than hold their own in those mixed practices. In the video provided, Randolph is seen blocking shots and scoring over the boys. Arenas is making deep 3-pointers and Robinson hits a step-back jumper, too.

Come playoff time, Komaki doesn't just use the boys JV team to get up and down, she takes it a step further.

"We will use the boys as a scout team," Komaki said. "They'll learn the opponents plays and run them against us to prepare."

SETTING THE TABLE FOR 2023-24 SEASON

The Trailblazers are pegged to be a top team in California once again, despite losing Juju Watkins to graduation. Sierra Canyon went 31-1 last season and was named the national champions by ESPN.

However, Etiwanda went on to win last year's CIF State Open Division title and returns standout Kennedy Smith, who is being recruited by Dawn Staley at South Carolina.

Freshman Juju Watkins impresses in USC debut, downing No. 7 Ohio State