LA HABRA >> In a close contest that came down to the final possession, the Crean Lutheran girls basketball team turned to its best player, Taylor Feldman, with the game on the line.

Feldman delivered by providing the game-winning basket, a driving layup with 3.4 seconds left, as Crean Lutheran defeated Sonora 48-46 in the CIF-SS Division 2AA quarterfinals on Saturday night at Sonora High.

Crean Lutheran (22-3) advances to face top-seeded Orange Lutheran in the semifinals Wednesday.

Feldman finished with 27 points, scoring 11 of her team’s 15 points in the fourth quarter, which was not a surprise to Saints co-coach Bianca Ziemann.

Crean Lutheran 48
Sonora 46

Taylor Feldman’s driving layup proves to be the difference. Feldman finished with 27 points.

Great game!@ocvarsity @CHLSgirlshoops @SGVNSports @SonoraGBB pic.twitter.com/w6J6hbwSJX

— David Delgado (@DavidDelgado_OC) February 20, 2022

“That’s what she does best,” Ziemann said. “I don’t coach that up in her, that’s her will and competitiveness to want to win. That shot was incredible at the end.”

“But I have to give credit to Sonora,” she continued. “They are tough girls, it’s a great program and we beat a very good team tonight. I’m proud of my girls, it could’ve went either way.”

Jazmin Sheikh and Kiana Graham each had a team-high 13 points for the Raiders.

Sheikh made a 3-pointer that tied the score at 46-46 with 47.2 seconds left, but Sonora was unable to capitalize on a steal by Leah Saynes on Crean Lutheran’s inbound pass. Sonora turned it over, giving the ball back to the Saints, which set the stage for Feldman’s winning shot.

Taylor Feldman took over in the 4th quarter of Crean Lutheran’s 48-46 win over Sonora. Feldman had 27 points, 11 in the 4th & the game winner with 3.4 secs) Saints play Orange Lutheran in the semis. @ocvarsity @CHLSgirlshoops @ocvarsityguy @creanlutheranhs pic.twitter.com/nsfeyf8fd1

— David Delgado (@DavidDelgado_OC) February 20, 2022

Sonora coach Melissa Barajas cited missed defensive assignments, rebounding and missing some good looks at the basket late in the game as the difference.

“I thought we played really hard, but just down the stretch we just missed a lot of opportunities,” she said. “I don’t know if the moment got a little too big for us, playing under pressure, because we haven’t had many close games this year, but again, we’re really proud of our kids because they battled and never quit.”

Sonora (20-7) trailed early but went on a 16-2 run to take a 19-14 lead after the first quarter. Larissa Robles provided a spark with eight of her 12 points in the opening period.

The Raiders took a 32-26 halftime lead with Graham, a sophomore, scoring seven points in the second quarter.

Both teams labored through a low scoring third quarter, which saw Sheikh and Robles both exit the game with injuries, though both would return to action.

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Ziemann shared her thoughts on the win and looked ahead to the matchup with Orange Lutheran on Wednesday.

“Tonight was a battle of guard play, next week will be a little bit different, but they’re a No. 1 seed,” she said, “so we’re going to have to come out ready to play against a well-respected, very good program.”