Basketball Celebrates Seniors with Win

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Seniors Julia Razo and Janae Fairbrook led St. Francis to a 74-32 win over Sheldon on a night they were celebrated in their final regular season home game.

“It has been one of the best experiences knowing there are so many people here that love and support us,” said Fairbrook, who scored four points on with four three-pointers. “It was a great night.”

St. Francis jumped out to a 21-11 lead in the first as Fairbrook hit two threes and Razo started off with eight points. She had three triples of her own as part of an 11-point quarter to head into halftime with 19 of her game-high 21 points.

“It went by really fast,” said Razo. “It was really fun. We did not play our best but we played with heart and good spirits.”

The Troubadours led 41-18 at the break and cruised to the victory. SF clinched a tie for the Delta League title and can win the title out-right with a win over Grant on Wednesday.

“It puts us in a better position for playoffs and I can’t wait to start another journey,” said Fairbrook.

Razo and Fairbrook and manager Rica Baccay were honored in a pregame ceremony prior to the game.

“They have been leaders on the floor by example,” said Head Coach Vic Pitton. “They have really shown the results of hard work. It is not just a result of practices. It is all the training and hard work they have done outside of practice to develop their skills.”

Both players started their careers playing on the Junior Varsity team as freshmen and were promoted to the varsity team for the playoffs. Julia averaged 9.8 points per game, while Janae scored at an 8.2 clip.

Both joined the varsity team for good as sophomores, helping the team reached the Sac-Joaquin playoffs before being eliminated by St. Mary’s. St. Francis won the Delta League title during their junior seasons and had the magical run to the NorCal title and CIF State Championship game.

Fairbrook had 20 points against Menlo-Atherton in the NorCal semifinals and helped spark the win over Castro Valley. Razo had a big game against Oak Ridge in the Section semifinals and was one of the top performers in the state championship game.

As seniors, both have posted their best seasons as Troubies, setting single-game bests for points and posting record-breaking performances.

“It has been tremendous to see the growth they have shown this season,” said Pitton.

Fairbrook is scoring a career-best 14.2 points per game, while ranking seventh in California in three-pointers made. She had a career-best 41 points against Grant on a night she made a school-record 11 three-pointers.

“Janae’s three-point shooting has been phenomenal,” said Pitton of Fairbrook, who holds the single-game, single-season and career marks for three-pointers. “She is a tremendous baller in every respect of the word.”

She reset her single-season single-season mark for three-pointers on Monday.

Razo has scored a career-best 14.0 points per game and has scored in double figures in 10 of the last 11 games. She has scored a career-high 27 points two times, including the Holy Hoops game against Christian Brothers and last Friday vs. Monterey Trail.

“Julia has evolved into such a complete basketball player with her shot,” said Pitton. “She is able to hit it in crucial times and very effortlessly. She has also improved on the defensive end and her rebounding.”

Baccay has served as the team manager, while starting many games over the last two seasons with her violin with the playing of the anthem.

“Rica has been a tremendous supporter of the team, compiling statistics and being at practice,” said Pitton. “But what has been most memorable has been her solo violin performances of our national anthem The Star Spangles Banner. It was topped by her performance at Sleep Train Arena for the State Championship game. It was quite memorable.”

St. Francis 74, Sheldon 32 1 2 3 4 F
Sheldon 11 7 4 10 32
St. Francis 21 20 21 12 74

SF – Razo 21, Fairbrook 14, Koerwitz 11, Kelly 7, Nicolos 7, Keitges 3, Quiniola 3, Bagatelos 3, Austin 2, Graybill 2, Gage 1. S – Watkins 18, Almazon 6, Hufana 5, Jackson 2, Patterson-Reid 1.