"I struggled with a lot of anxiety coming into games. Basketball and teammates kept her focused. This season has been another challenging time with practices at night and at middle schools until the high school gym was finally re-opened at the end of January."
"That traumatic situation has brought everyone closer. On Saturday, Palisades (16-14) fought Faith Christian (34-1) to almost a draw at halftime, trailing 29-26. But the Dolphins scored only 11 points in the second half and had no answer for Long Beach State-bound Lauren Harris, who came in as the nation's career three-point scoring leader."
Palisades High School's girls basketball team reached the state Division IV championship game on Saturday, falling 51-37 to Yuba City Faith Christian. Senior Ayla Teegardin and her teammates overcame significant adversity after the Palisades Fire destroyed their community in January 2025. Teegardin lost her home and spent months in a hotel while battling anxiety. The team practiced at middle schools until their gym reopened late January. Despite trailing only 29-26 at halftime, Palisades scored just 11 second-half points against Faith Christian's dominant performance. Lauren Harris led Faith Christian with 26 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists. Elly Tierney contributed 15 points for Palisades, which outrebounded opponents 43-33 but struggled with shooting efficiency.
#high-school-basketball #state-championship #community-resilience #palisades-fire-recovery #girls-sports
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