Fifth time a charm - Weed captures program's first girls basketball title

Weed junior forward Renaissance Johnson watched in jubilation as the clock hit zero at U-Prep on Saturday night.

Johnson had been on the receiving end of last year's disappointment. Weed fell to Fall River twice in the CIF Northern Section Division VI section and NorCal Regional championship last year.

Johnson, Weed's 6-foot-1 leading scorer made sure her team wasn't going to miss its opportunity again.

Weed had the talent to dictate how the game was played on offense and defense this year with skilled freshman and sophomore guards around Johnson.

Johnson scored 17 points, freshman point guard Brooklyn Bivens scored 10 points and sophomore shooting guard Alayja Oliver chipped in nine points to help Weed fend off Redding Christian 43-33 in the CIF Northern Section Division VI title game.

The win gave Weed girls basketball (20-11) the school's section title. Saturday marked the first time a girls sports program from Weed won CIF Northern Section title. The Cougars girls basketball team had been to CIF Northern Section title games in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2022 but fell short in the championship round each time before Saturday.

Now Weed could enjoy the thrill of winning a section title.

"There was so much pressure coming into today but we really pulled through and played our game," Johnson said.

Weed looks to build on Saturday's success in the CIF NorCal Division VI Regional playoffs. The depth of Bivens and Oliver took pressure off Johnson needing to have the ball in her hands on each possession.

"(Bivens and Oliver) have been able to work hard and get better," Johnson said. "They work hard to get their 3-pointers up every day. We're just grinding. Everything is a basketball mindset."

Bivens is a skilled, 5-foot-8 point guard who shoots left handed and is comfortable dribbling the ball with both hands.

"I feel at the beginning of the season we just bonded together," Bivens said. "Even though there would be rough patches, we'd lose games or win games, we'd keep that bond. Our coaches made that click and now we've started winning games."

Oliver is 5-foot-11 and has a wide frame that allows her to play in the post. Oliver moves quickly and can handle the ball with both hands as a guard. Her length and skill to play numerous positions makes scoring easier for Johnson.

"I've just been working hard in practice and coach (Kent Cunningham) tells me whatever I do in practice, I'll do in a game," Oliver said. "I work as hard as I can in practice so I can show it in the game."