Redlands High Girls' Basketball posts most victories in 15 years

Redlands High School’s girls’ basketball team did something this season that no other Lady Terriers squad had done since the 2010-11 season — finish with a winning record and win five games in Citrus Belt League play.

The team also defeated Redlands East Valley High on Jan. 8 to snap a 41-game CBL losing streak that dated back to its last previous victory, a 43-28 triumph over district rival Citrus Valley on May 13, 2021. That season was limited to eight games due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Second-year head coach Brandon Benjamin, a history teacher at Cope Middle School, said the turnaround came from dedication behind the scenes.

“It’s just been hard work,” Benjamin said. “Two years of girls showing up in the off-season, on the track, in the weight room and under the lights where no one was watching.”

Benjamin, an assistant coach two years ago before taking over the head coaching job, said the program is “full of coaches and girls who are willing to set aside themselves for the team. They set the standard high, put in the work and they have found results.”

The Terriers lost their last two CBL contests to Cajon and unbeaten league champion Yucaipa on Feb. 2-3 to finish 14-7 overall and 5-5 in league. The team’s five league wins are the most since the 2010-11 team went 7-3 in league, 15-11 overall and lost a first-round CIF Southern Section playoff game to Riverside Poly, 48-35.

With the CIF Southern Section announcing the teams that made this year’s playoffs on Saturday (Feb. 7), it may be a longshot for the Terriers after their fourth-place finish in CBL play. Six-team leagues are assured of only three playoff spots in CIF.

“A huge credit has to be given to our seniors — Isis Silva, Abby Lopez and Simran Jassi,” Benjamin said. “They’ve seen this program for four years, through all its ups and downs. Their consistency and leadership have been instrumental in making sure the new culture took hold.”

The team benefitted from a couple of newcomers and improved players from last season who really blossomed, he added.

RHS won its first three games to open the season and closed out pre-league play with six straight victories.

Taryn Ahmed-Connor, a junior transfer guard, was the leading scorer at 11.9 points per game, averaged 4.6 rebounds and led the team in steals with 4.2 per game. Valeria Rico, a freshman forward, started every game, averaging 8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

“Those two coming in and making an immediate impact has turned this team into something formidable,” Benjamin said.

Silva, the team captain, returned from injury to average over 9 points, 2.4 assists and three steals per game. Benjamin also cited sophomore guard Jasmeen Gill (7.6 points, 4.4 rebounds per game), junior forward Maren Orr and sophomore center Sayler Snodgrass, who “have made huge strides since last season, confirming that their hard work is paying off in big ways.”

As far as reaching the CIF playoffs is concerned, Benjamin said it wasn’t top of anyone’s mind before the season.

“After all, we went 2-19 in my first year as an assistant and 3-16 last year as the head coach,” Benjamin said. “Our goal has always been to keep getting better and keep setting the standard high. We’d love a chance to keep proving that and to keep getting better.”

Some team members play travel ball and the program will be doing conditioning and weight-lifting heading into summer ball tryouts, he added.

While five wins over CBL opponents is a first for the program since 2010-11, Benjamin said there were three games that proved the most rewarding.

Beating Cajon at home “is the win that changed everything,” he said.

“This was the moment we knew how dangerous of a team we could be. Our tallest players are 5-7. We know we are undersized against almost every team we play. Watching our girls battle and pull out a huge CBL win put the league on notice.”

Final score: RHS 44, Cajon 39.

Then it was Senior Night against Citrus Valley.

“It was a steady game, large crowd and everybody on both teams desperately wanted to win,” Benjamin said. “Watching our seniors be recognized and then taking home the win against a major rival was one of the best feelings of the year.”

A non-league home game against Indian Springs of San Bernardino was a revenge game for the Terriers.

“We played them in my first game as head coach last season, had a 14-point comeback but ended up losing by two points in the final minutes,” Benjamin said. “This season we had Indian Springs at home and taking care of business meant this season was not a fluke.”

The winning season has raised the bar for RHS girls’ basketball.

“Our expectations are going to be high next year,” Benjamin said. “Not because we think we have to replicate anything, but because we know what we’re capable of. We know if we show up, put our heads down and put in the work, we’ll find ourselves right back at the end of a winning season and ready to defend that season in the playoffs.”