Salesian College Preparatory High School Girls Basketball Season Preview

The 2024–25 season was another step forward for Salesian College Preparatory’s girls basketball program, marked by outstanding leadership, emerging talent, and a fierce competitive spirit. Behind a core group of driven student-athletes, the Pride captured the TCAL League Championship and made an inspiring run to become the NorCal Division 2 Runner-Up. Leaders on and off the Court The heartbeat of this year’s team came from standout captains Janiya Sawyer and Jamia Sawyer. The dynamic duo led the team in nearly every statistical category — from scoring and rebounding to steals and leadership. Their performance and presence set the tone for a group that never backed down from a challenge. Vanessa Parilla added another layer of firepower as a sharpshooter and dependable scorer. Her transformation into a lockdown defender made her a two-way threat. Meanwhile, Emma Bryant, a freshman, emerged as a revelation, showing poise beyond her years, knocking down threes, and crashing the boards from the guard position. Season Highlights and Turning Points Among the biggest highlights of the season was a thrilling victory in the TCAL League Championship game, played at the high-profile Nike Event in Oakland. The girls battled through a challenging schedule and rose to the occasion time and time again, culminating in a run to the NorCal Division 2 title game — a testament to their resilience and growth. While every season brings its challenges, this team handled adversity with maturity. Whether it was bouncing back from tough losses or pushing through pressure moments, they stayed focused, learned quickly, and fought hard — hallmarks of a championship-caliber squad. Freshman Impact and Player Development This season also marked the rise of the next generation of Pride basketball. Emma Bryant was named Most Improved Player, and fellow freshman Lauren Ochong made significant strides throughout the season. Both showed that they are ready to take on larger roles moving forward. Senior Legacy The graduating seniors — especially Janiya and Jamia — will be deeply missed. They brought leadership, energy, and consistent performance that laid the foundation for success. Their mentorship of younger teammates has left a lasting imprint on the program’s culture. Looking Ahead The future is incredibly bright. Rising junior Oriannah Birden is poised for a breakout season, while freshmen like Naomi Young, Lauren Ochong, and Emma Bryant already have significant varsity minutes under their belts. The team’s depth, youth, and hunger make next season full of promise. Offseason Focus Coach Pezzola and staff plan to focus the offseason on post-entry offense and shot creation, while continuing to emphasize defensive fundamentals — a long-standing strength of the program. Follow the Pride Full season stats and game recaps are available on MaxPreps. With a strong core returning and a program built on discipline and development, Salesian girls' basketball is set to keep climbing.