Benicia girls basketball defeats Bethel in playoffs

Benicia junior Amelie Issier scores 25 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead her team to victory

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Benicia High School junior guard Amelie Issier scored a team-high 25 points, including six 3-pointers, to power the girls basketball team to a 54-44 victory over Jesse Bethel in the second round of the North Coast Section Division III playoffs. The second-seeded Panthers will now host No. 11 Mission San Jose in the semifinals on Tuesday.

Why it matters

This win marks the furthest Bethel has advanced in the playoffs since the 2019-2020 season, and the Jaguars will return three of their top players next year, providing hope for the future. For Benicia, the victory keeps their playoff run alive as they seek to advance to the section title game.

The details

Issier's offensive outburst, which included two layups and three 3-pointers in the third quarter, helped Benicia pull away after holding a slim 22-19 lead at halftime. The Panthers' excellent ball movement also led to open looks for other players, with junior guard Kalea Cronin knocking down two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to extend the lead. Benicia's defense, anchored by 5-foot-10 sophomore center Tailua Scott-Gasologa and 5-foot-9 junior center Tameya Fitzgerald, was also key in containing Bethel's physical style of play.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 21, 2026.

The players

Amelie Issier

A junior guard for Benicia High School who scored a team-high 25 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead her team to victory.

Corey Ott

The head coach of the Benicia High School girls basketball team.

Zarriah Hall

A junior player for Jesse Bethel High School who will be one of the team's top returning players next season.

Raquel Torres

The head coach of the Jesse Bethel High School girls basketball team.

Tailua Scott-Gasologa

A 5-foot-10 sophomore center for Benicia High School who anchored the team's defense.

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What they’re saying

“Her offensive game has been coming on strong. She put in a lot of work on her shooting this offseason with a trainer, a shooting coach and everything else.”

— Corey Ott, Benicia High School head coach (timesheraldonline.com)

“I'm so happy that we're getting so far as a team because we've put in so much work.”

— Amelie Issier (timesheraldonline.com)

“I told them 'despite how you feel right now, there's still a lot to be proud of. It's a lot of motivation for the offseason with how far we got this year. Now we know what work has to be done to advance further in the future.'”

— Raquel Torres, Jesse Bethel High School head coach (timesheraldonline.com)

What’s next

The second-seeded Panthers will host No. 11 Mission San Jose in the semifinals on Tuesday, February 25, 2026. With a win, Benicia would advance to the section title game and face either top-seeded St. Bernard's or No. 4 Miramonte.

The takeaway

Benicia's victory showcases the team's strong guard play and ability to make 3-pointers, as well as their commitment to improving their skills in the offseason. Meanwhile, Bethel's deep playoff run demonstrates the program's progress and provides motivation for the team to continue working hard in the offseason to advance even further next year.