- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Benicia Today
By the People, for the People
Lum Leads Benicia Girls Basketball to Historic Playoff Run
Sophomore guard Ella Lum propels Panthers to NorCal regional semifinals
Mar. 10, 2026 at 10:20pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Ella Lum, a 5-foot sophomore guard for the Benicia High School girls basketball team, has been a driving force behind the Panthers' deep playoff run this season. Despite being one of the shortest players on the court, Lum's impact has been outsized, as she has led the team in scoring during their NorCal Division IV tournament victories over Twelve Bridges and Bret Harte. Benicia's season ended with a loss to Lathrop in the regional semifinals, but the team's 22-win campaign and NCS championship game appearance mark the program's best season in recorded history.
Why it matters
Lum's emergence as a star player has coincided with Benicia's remarkable turnaround, as the team went from winning just five games two seasons ago to making the playoffs in each of the past two years. The Panthers' success has put the small city of Benicia on the map in the world of high school basketball, and Lum's leadership and skill have been instrumental in this rise.
The details
In the NorCal Division IV tournament, Lum scored 14 points in a first-round victory over Twelve Bridges and followed that up with a team-high 20 points in a thrilling comeback win over Bret Harte. The Panthers trailed by as many as 16 points in that game, but Lum scored seven points in the final three minutes and assisted on a key 3-pointer to lift Benicia to the 56-53 upset victory.
- Benicia High School girls basketball team qualified for NorCals after falling to Miramonte in the North Coast Section Division III championship game.
- Benicia's season ended with a 55-48 loss to No. 3 Lathrop in the regional semifinals on Saturday.
The players
Ella Lum
A 5-foot sophomore guard for the Benicia High School girls basketball team who has been a driving force behind the Panthers' deep playoff run this season.
Corey Ott
The head coach of the Benicia High School girls basketball team, who has praised Lum's work ethic and impact on the team's success.
Kennedy Conway
A sophomore teammate of Lum's who hit a key 3-pointer in the comeback win over Bret Harte.
What they’re saying
“We realized that we had an opportunity for another chance. We came back even better and hungrier to win. We didn't like that feeling of losing when we were so close.”
— Ella Lum, Sophomore Guard
“It's a total blessing to get a player like Ella. There's no way we have the success we've had these last couple of years without her. There's nobody that works harder than her. She gets me in that gym at six o'clock every morning, and I can't say no because of her work ethic.”
— Corey Ott, Head Coach
The takeaway
Ella Lum's emergence as a star player has been instrumental in Benicia High School's remarkable turnaround, as the team has gone from winning just five games two seasons ago to making the playoffs in each of the past two years and reaching the NorCal regional semifinals this season. Lum's leadership, skill, and tireless work ethic have inspired her teammates and put the small city of Benicia on the map in the world of high school basketball.
