Marin Catholic ends 23-year drought, wins California (CIF) D3 girls high school basketball title

Izzy McFadden explodes for 21 points leading the Wildcats to their second state crown, this one at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento

Izzy McFadden (left) of Marin Catholic is guarded by Mater Dei Catholic's Ana Karen Lacave during the California (CIF) State Division 3 title game. / Photo by Dennis Lee

SACRAMENTO — The girls on Marin Catholic's basketball team weren't even born the last time the Wildcats' last won a state champiionship.

On Friday, they gave a performance worthy of the history books.

Izzy McFadden scored 21 points, leading a late third quarter surge that carried over to the fourth to win the California (CIF) State Division 3 championship at the Golden 1 Center, home of the NBA's Sacramento Kings, with a 48-38 victory over Mater Dei Catholic.

Down six in the middle of the third quarter, the Wildcats finished the quarter on a 15-2 run keyed by McFadden, who had seven in the run and was capped with a three-pointer from Simone Claxton.

The Wildcats (26-11) held strong in the fourth, getting a fastbreak hoop from Claxton and a bucket and two free throws by McFadden to go up 43-36. Mater Dei Catholic (21-14), out of Chula Vista in the San Diego Section, never closed inside five.

Catrice Chan and Joclyn Worley led Mater Dei Catholic with 15 points apiece.

It was the second state championship for the Wildcats, the first in 2002 when future WNBA star Brooke Smith led them to victory.

Considering this was the first year coaching for 23-year-old Kayden Korst and that the Wildcats lost their league championship game by 35 points, this title seemed unlikely.

“I don’t think any of us thought at the start of the season that we’d be doing this,” Korst said.

But not to Korst or any of the Wildcats, who overcame the flu bug late in the season.

McFadden has led a balanced group all season, along with Brooke Spagnuolo and Sienna Frazier. Cecelia Biernat and Jocelyn Gigounas added eight points apiece for the Wildcdats.

“We had some tough losses, and we struggled with sickness during the (league) tournament," Korst said. "But once we played University in the North Coast Section playoffs at Kezar, and saw all the parents and teachers and fans supporting us, we felt the love.

"From that point on, it was ‘One more win, one more, one more."

They won nine straight to close the season and 12 of 13.

Assistant coach Rick DeMartini, who was the head coach for 25 seasons and piled up a 519-240 record with 10 MCAL, three NCS, one NorCal and one state title (in 2022), said he saw it all coming. He and his former player Ashley Saiia who was head coach from 2018 to last season laid the foundation.

“Once we started the playoff run and when I saw the NorCal bracket, I knew this team could get to the state championship,” DeMartini said. “It’s like fate. These kids deserve it.”d

Marin Catholic players celebrate winning the California (CIF) State Division 3 girls basketball championship at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. / Photo by Dennis Lee

Marin Catholic players and coaches pose following their victory in the California (CIF) State Division 3 title game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. / Photo by Dennis Lee

Box score: Marin Catholic 48, Mater Dei Catholic State D3 championship / State sheet: CIF

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