Four-time defending SMAL champs Faith Christian prepare for postseason

Lions secure fourth straight league title, look to make deep playoff run

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Faith Christian School girls basketball team secured its fourth straight Sacramento Metropolitan Athletic League (SMAL) regular season championship with a 54-43 win over John Adams Academy in the season finale. Led by senior star Lauren Harris, who is nearing 3,300 career points, the Lions overcame a slow start to pull away in the second half. While pleased with the league title, head coach Geoff Harris said the team is focused on making a deep playoff run in the Sac-Joaquin Section tournament.

Why it matters

Faith Christian has dominated the SMAL in recent years, winning four straight league titles. As the postseason approaches, the Lions will look to translate their regular season success into a deep playoff run and potentially a state championship. The team's high-powered offense, led by the prolific scoring of Lauren Harris, makes them a threat to win it all.

The details

In Thursday's regular season finale, Faith Christian trailed John Adams Academy 22-19 at halftime before Lauren Harris took over in the second half. Harris hit three straight 3-pointers in the third quarter to help the Lions pull away. She finished with 35 points, including 26 in the second half, to bring her career total to 3,284 points. John Adams' Elliott Schwartz kept the game close with 22 points, but the Patriots couldn't overcome the Lions' second-half surge.

  • Faith Christian secured its fourth straight SMAL regular season championship on Thursday, February 13, 2026.
  • The Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs begin on Saturday, February 15, 2026 with the release of the brackets.

The players

Lauren Harris

A senior at Faith Christian School who has signed to play at Long Beach State. She is nearing 3,300 career points and led the Lions with 35 points in the regular season finale.

Elliott Schwartz

A senior at John Adams Academy who has committed to play at William Jessup. He scored 22 points and had four steals and a block in the loss to Faith Christian.

Geoff Harris

The head coach of the Faith Christian girls basketball team, which has won four straight SMAL regular season titles.

Presley Berry

A top running mate of Lauren Harris throughout Faith Christian's four-year run in the SMAL. She scored 15 points, including 11 in the first half, to help keep the Lions in the game.

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What they’re saying

“I don't think we played our best basketball tonight, but we showed grit and determination and that's what got us the win.”

— Lauren Harris (Yahoo Sports)

“She kept us in the game (first half). Usually when I don't have a good start (Presley) is the reason we're still in the game – every close game.”

— Lauren Harris (Yahoo Sports)

“I'm thinking about what we can do better... League champs isn't all that we can do.”

— Geoff Harris, Head Coach, Faith Christian School (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

The Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs begin on Monday, February 17, 2026 with play-in matches. Faith Christian and John Adams Academy could potentially meet again in the postseason.

The takeaway

Faith Christian's dominant four-year run in the SMAL has them poised for a deep playoff run, but the team knows a league title is not enough. Led by the prolific scoring of Lauren Harris, the Lions have their sights set on a Sac-Joaquin Section and potentially a state championship.