Birmingham Girls are the champion bloodline on the basketball team.
Dey Day Berry’s father, who is now an assistant coach for Patriots, won the title of CIF Los Angeles City Section in 1996. Zo Mitchell’s elder brother, David Elliott won a championship with Birmingham in 2021.
Birmingham will play against Westchester at the city section Open Division Championship on Saturday at Pesedena City College with both Pedigri and Depth.
“This year, I think we have all the pieces,” said Birmingham coach Victor Copongscorn. “In the initial lineup, on the bench, we are probably deeper than ever.”
The depth has allowed the coaching staff to experiment with a lineup throughout the session on how the patriotic opponents can match the best. Copongscorn said he can play eight to 10 different players any night, and there could hardly have any drop-off in skills with his bench players.
Birmingham can play with two big in its lineup – something unique in high school girls basketball. Natalie Lopez, Sammy Velaskase and Berry are experienced guards and are competent passers -by in Lily Martinez and Michelle Post.
“We just tell them that they will work with each other,” Copongscorn said. “If guards want to get shots, the posts will have to do their work. And want to get post shots, the guards will have to do their work. So we are difficult for the game plan and try to stop everything we have. ,
Patriots fought against King/Drew in their semi-final game and created only one 3-population in the game. Copongscorn said that the additional lines used for the college game in the Lamino college court could confuse the players, so they tapped the lines on the floor of the gym of Birmingham to help them in the preparation of the championship.
There is a advantage of Birmingham being first played at Pasadeena City College. But even if the shots do not fall, the depth and defense will be for the patriots.
“We are trying to emphasize the team that it is not for our crime that leads the way,” Copongscorn said. “We put a lot of emphasis on defense and our defense can lead the path where we can stop and get easy buckets.”
Velaskase often leads to defense and puts excessive pressure on the ball. She is also playing in her first championship game with Birmingham, which was last in the Patriots City Section Championship Game, after recovering from ACL surgery in 2022 from ACL surgery.
Birmingham won its first West Valley League Championship this season and defeated Grenada Hills for the first time since 2010, promoting confidence for the playoffs.
Being on top was unfamiliar to patriots at first, but it helped them rise to the level of their competition, such as some players’ dads and elder brothers in front of them.
“They have shown that they can handle being a favorite,” Copongscorn said. “I don’t think they got pressure. They were able to step into big games and big moments.”
Girls basketball championship schedule
CIF City section
Open division
Birmingham vs Westchester Pasadeena City College, Saturday, 7 pm
Division II
Kennedy vs Van Nuies at Birmingham High School, Friday, 6 pm
CIF southern section
Open division
Cal Baptist University, Rivaraside, Friday, 6 pm Sierra Canyon vs Ativanda
Division 2A
Louisville vs Lakewood Colony High School, Saturday, afternoon
Division 3aa
Seritos vs. Oak Park at Edison High School, Saturday, 6:30