AZUSA – Speed and pressure defense were the essential tools the Savanna girls basketball team used Friday to beat Warren, 46-25, in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 championship game at Azusa Pacific University.

It is Savanna’s first CIF-SS girls basketball championship.

Savanna (18-13) led from start to finish. The Rebels bolted to a 7-0 lead and took a 17-5 advantage into the second quarter and had a 34-14 lead at halftime

Senior guard Jazara Madrid led Savanna with 16 points. Rebels senior Camaila Carigma scored 15 points and five assists.

Carigma had seven of Savanna’s 23 steals.

The Rebels’ press and swarming defense in the frontcourt created 27 turnovers.

Warren (22-10) was led by Alyah Lopez’s 10 points.

Savanna coach Ramez Michail said the team was in top form Friday.

“This definitely was one of our better games,” Michail said. “We scheduled some tough games for the girls to get them battle-tested. The girls came out super-super focused today.”

Madrid said she and her teammates were in sync all game.

“We played really well as a team,” Madrid said. “There have been some games where we haven’t been really good at communicating on defense. I felt we talked a lot as a team today.”

Madrid, Carigma and Dyanna Cruz made two 3-point baskets each for Savanna. Cruz and Madrid had seven rebounds each. Cruz had five assists.

Savanna made 19 of its 56 shots. Warren was 8 for 38 on all shots and 1 for 10 on 3-point attempts.

The season continues for both teams next week in the CIF Southern California Regional playoffs that begin Tuesday. The regional brackets will be released Sunday.

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