Baptist Christian girls' basketball coach Bryan Shifflett organized a challenging early season schedule for his Warriors. He pitted his Division 6 team against powerhouse schools two to four divisions higher. Schools with enrollments much larger, and often times with players bigger, faster and taller.

The results? A resounding success. The Warriors finished second in the Victory League with a 10-2 record and have won 10 of their last 11 games.

And Baptist Christian has continued on that winning track.

On Thursday, the Warriors defeated New Harvest Christian of Norwalk 57-22 in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 6 playoffs in a home game.

New Harvest came into the game as the number two team from the eight-team International League with an 11-2 record. But before a capacity crowd, Baptist Christian seized control from the outset, racing out to 14-4 and 30-9 margins at the end of the first quarter and at the close of the first half respectively. Shifflett substituted freely in the second half, with no drop in performance, as the Warriors cruised to a 49-15 advantage at the end of the third quarter.

Ye s , said Shif f l e tt , that tough pre-league schedule is paying dividends.

"We played tougher, bigger, faster teams," Shifflett said. "It taught us not to panic under pressure. Playing more physical teams taught the girls what we have to do to win."

And in the win over New Harvest, the Warriors came out employing a 3-2 half-court zone trap. Time and again, the Warriors' double and triple team defense forced New Harvest into bad passes and turnovers that fueled Baptist Christian's transition game.

The Warriors were led by seniors Jenna Haringa and Jenifer Keyes. Haringa, a forward, and Keyes, a guard are the Warriors "go-to" players.

"I call them peas and carrots," Shifflett said with a smile. "They are best friends and they really feed off each other. They have played on varsity together now for three years, and they know and understand each other well. They are a special dual."

Both Haringa and Keyes were virtually unstoppable. Haringa had a game-high 20 points, along with five rebounds, and two steals. While Keyes had 17 points, three rebounds, and five steals. But they had plenty of support. Every Warrior reached the scoring column with Madison Hoidahl and Stephanie Van Dam contributing four points each. But a fast break, transition game is non-existent without someone pulling down the rebounds. Leading the way was Monique Gonzalez with eight along with four steals, and two points. Shalynn Van Dam had seven boards and two points and Camroy Hill had seven boards – five on the offensive end, and scored a basket.

"Our rebounding has gotten better from all the girls this year," Shifflett said. "Stephanie and Shalynn Van Dam have really stepped it up."

Every member contributing in some way has been the overriding theme for the Warriors, who now improve to 14-9, and finished the regular season as the number five ranked team in the top-16 Division 6 poll.

"The entire team played very well," Shifflett said. "We played great defense, we had good rotation, and we had girls score tonight who hadn't scored all year. It was a complete team effort, and that's what I keep telling them we (must) have."

New Harvest plays in a competitive conference, and coach George Gaxiola said that Baptist Christian was one of the better teams they have played.

"They are big and fast," he said. "They play great fundamental basketball, and they are all great shooters. They are a worthy team for the playoffs."

The win moves the Warriors into the second round where they faced Boron, which defeated Coastal Christian 44-32 in the first round.

Boron (8-2, 14-5 overall) is the number two team from the Desert Mountain League.

What to expect when the two teams tangled at 7 p.m. on Saturday night at Baptist Christian? "It's going to be tough," Shifflett said.

"They were second in their league, and it's a tough league."

And should the Warriors win, it won't get any easier, Shifflett said. But that's just the way he planned their pre-league schedule. Back when they battled some of the strongest teams in the Inland Empire. Tough teams that he knew would help prepare the Warriors reach their ultimate goal.

"We have fought all season long to get to our goal," he said. "Our goal is a championship."