Sage Hill girls' basketball delivers shocking upset of Sierra Canyon

The Lightning knocked off the top-seeded Trailblazers in a CIF State Open Division regional semifinal game.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Sage Hill's girls' basketball team stunned Chatsworth Sierra Canyon, 57-54, on Saturday in a CIF State Open Division regional semifinal game. Texas-bound guard Amalia Holguin scored 17 of her 26 points in the second half to lead the Lightning to the upset victory over the top-seeded Trailblazers. Addison Uphoff scored 15 points and Eve Fowler added 11 for Sage Hill, which will now face Ontario Christian in the regional championship game.

Why it matters

This was a major upset in the CIF State Open Division playoffs, as Sierra Canyon was the top seed and had just won the CIF Southern Section Open Division title. Sage Hill's victory sends shockwaves through the high school basketball community and sets up an intriguing regional final matchup with Ontario Christian, another powerhouse program.

The details

Sage Hill jumped out to a lead and held on down the stretch, with Holguin's late free throws sealing the victory. The Lightning defense was able to limit Sierra Canyon's top players and force them into a last-second, off-balance shot that came up short at the buzzer. This was the first time in school history that Sage Hill had beaten Sierra Canyon.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 8, 2026.
  • Sage Hill will face Ontario Christian in the regional championship game on Tuesday, March 11, 2026 at 7 p.m.

The players

Amalia Holguin

A Texas-bound guard who scored 26 points, including 17 in the second half, to lead Sage Hill to the upset victory.

Addison Uphoff

Scored 15 points for Sage Hill in the win.

Eve Fowler

Added 11 points for the Lightning in the upset over Sierra Canyon.

Delaney White

A player for Sierra Canyon who took the final shot that came up short at the buzzer.

Jethro Julian

The head coach of the Sage Hill girls' basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“It was a great moment of joy for the kids, especially for the seniors. It was so dope, just to see them celebrate, like, cheer for one another. They finally came together as a team. I see that. Some girls were crying. It was just like a moment of joy. It was a great moment.”

— Jethro Julian, Sage Hill head coach (latimes.com)

What’s next

Sage Hill will face Ontario Christian in the CIF State Open Division regional championship game on Tuesday, March 11, 2026 at 7 p.m. Ontario Christian defeated Etiwanda in the other regional semifinal game.

The takeaway

Sage Hill's stunning upset of top-seeded Sierra Canyon in the CIF State Open Division playoffs demonstrates the parity and unpredictability of high school basketball. The Lightning's victory sets up an intriguing regional final matchup with another powerhouse program in Ontario Christian, as Sage Hill looks to continue its Cinderella run.