MONTEBELLO — The Cantwell Sacred-Heart girls basketball team was one quarter away from its first trip to a CIF State championship game.
And then disaster struck.
The top-seeded Cardinals were outscored 14-7 in the fourth quarter and fell 47-42 to second-seeded Whitney in Tuesday’s CIF Division IV Southern California Regional final.
Marina Leiva #44 of Cantwell-Sacred Heart shoots over Haylie Wang # 23 of Whitney. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Haylie Wang # 23 of Whitney and Alicia Lara #13 of Cantwell-Sacred Heart scrap for the ball. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Alicia Lara #13 of Cantwell-Sacred Heart tries to shoot over Allie Yamaguchi # 2 of Whitney. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Haylie Wang # 23 of Whitney guards Alicia Lara #13 of Cantwell-Sacred Heart scrap for the ball. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Sarai Carter #15 of Whitney takes a rebound away from Marina Leiva #44 of Cantwell-Sacred Heart and Alicia Lara #13 of Cantwell-Sacred Heart. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Haylie Wang # 23 of Whitney and Alicia Lara #13 of Cantwell-Sacred Heart scrap for the ball. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Marina Leiva #44 of Cantwell-Sacred Heart shoots over Sarai Carter #15 of Whitney. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Haylie Wang # 23 of Whitney guards Leilannie Chavez #32 of Cantwell-Sacred Heart. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Sarai Carter #15 of Whitney goes for the ball. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Sarai Carter #15 of Whitney takes a rebound away from Marina Leiva #44 of Cantwell-Sacred Heart. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Sarai Carter #15 of Whitney and Leilannie Chavez #32 of Cantwell-Sacred Heart battle for the ball. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Leilani Dominiguez #4 of Cantwell-Sacred Heart guards Sarai Carter #15 of Whitney. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Leilani Dominiguez #4 of Cantwell-Sacred Heart tries to take the ball from Alyssa S0 #11 of Whitney. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Leilannie Chavez #32 of Cantwell-Sacred Heart tries to get past Haylie Wang # 23 of Whitney. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Whitney celebrates. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Keira Kato # 3 of Whitney and Haylie Wang # 23 of Whitney celebrate after the win. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Whitney celebrates during the medal ceremony. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Whitney celebrates after the win. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
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Marina Leiva #44 of Cantwell-Sacred Heart shoots over Haylie Wang # 23 of Whitney. Cantwell-Sacred Heart played Whitney in a girls basketball playoff game on March 11, 2025 in Montebello, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Whitney will travel to Sacramento to take on Half Moon Bay in a battle of No. 2 seeds in the Division IV state title game at Golden 1 Center on Saturday at 10 a.m.
Cantwell’s season ended in heartbreaking fashion as it led for over 25 minutes of game time. The Cardinals were seeking redemption following their loss in the CIF Southern Section Division 3A championship game on Feb. 28.
“The fight that these girls have had all season,” Cantwell Sacred-Heart coach Virgil De Guía said. “I’m just so proud of them, that the adversity that we’ve been through … For them to always be together, to always play together, play for each other, play for me, it just shows that these girls can do anything. I’m just so proud of them.”
Marina Leiva gave it her all in her final game for the Cardinals. The senior forward finished with 14 points, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
“I stuck with the plan and God is by my side,” Leiva said. “I trusted my teammates, I trust my coaches and this is how far we got in. I’m forever grateful for that.”
De Guía credited Leiva for helping establish the culture in the program.
“Marina is a four-year starter for us,” De Guía said. “She’s played over 20 playoff games and she led us almost every year (to the playoffs). This season, she pushed us and we got to the championship. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to win it and now we were in the state regional finals.”
Although the Cardinals finished the season with two championship runner-up plaques, Leiva considered the season a success as she adjusted to her senior leadership role.
“I had to lead my team now and it was kind of hard, but we did it,” Leiva said. “You see how far we made it and I love these girls a lot.”
Cantwell jumped out to a lead early in the first quarter.
Cantwell opened the second quarter on a 12-2 run, which gave the Cardinals a 12-point lead midway through the quarter.
Whitney quickly rallied and pulled within three points heading into halftime.
The Cardinals’ offense began to struggle in the second half.
Still, Cantwell led after three quarters of play and were eight minutes away from making school history.
With 5:44 left in the fourth quarter, Whitney tied the game. Exactly 20 seconds later, the Wildcats took the lead and never looked back.
De Guía said he holds no regrets on how the season finished out.
“I’m just so proud of them,” he said. “Unfortunately we didn’t win, but this season is just one of the most memorable seasons that I’ve ever had coaching. I’m truly honored to lead this team and I’m just so happy for them and I wish them the best.”
