Ella Smith came off the bench to score a game-high 21 points, leading Democracy Prep to a 64-32 victory over Shadow Ridge in the Class 5A state semifinals Wednesday at Valley High School. The win sends the Blue Knights (16-6) to the championship game against Bishop Gorman on Friday at 5 p.m.
Smith added four rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. Senior guard Brayana Miles contributed 11 points, three rebounds, six assists and five steals, while La’Niah Hicks grabbed nine rebounds.
Democracy Prep coach Julius Barren said the team’s focus was already on Friday’s final. “Honestly, I want to be happy for our girls. I am happy for them, but this wasn’t our goal,” he said. “Our goal was a state championship, and they did what they needed to do to get us a step closer. But everything is about Friday night.”
The Blue Knights started cold from the perimeter, going 1-for-11 on 3-pointers in the first quarter. Smith entered off the bench and hit her first two shots, including the team’s first made 3-pointer. Democracy Prep finished 11-for-33 from deep.
“I love Ella,” Barren said. “Ella doesn’t start for us, and it’s not because she’s not a starter. It’s other things that we utilize her for. Her value to the team is unmeasurable, and tonight it showed. She came in and hit some big shots and got us going on both sides of the ball.”
A 14-3 run to open the second quarter, capped by a Smith 3-pointer, stretched the lead to 29-13 with 1:48 left in the half. The Blue Knights’ defense keyed on Shadow Ridge’s leading scorer, Jaslyn Jefferson, who had six early points but was held to three in the second quarter and none in the second half. Democracy Prep often sent two or three defenders at her.
Barren acknowledged the defensive scheme was also preparation for Gorman star Aaliah Spaight. “Honestly, and no disrespect to Shadow, but we were kind of mimicking getting the ball out of (Spaight’s) hands,” he said. “Kind of just trying to prep our rotations and things like that. It’s no secret and anybody can know that the game plan is to get the ball out of her hands, so we just wanted to get some reps at that today.”
Jefferson finished with nine points and seven rebounds, and Alexa Madsen added nine points and 12 rebounds for Shadow Ridge (12-9).
Democracy Prep has progressed each year since moving up to 5A after winning the 2A state title in 2023. The Blue Knights lost in the 5A semifinals in 2024 and fell in the championship game to Centennial last season. “We’re always the underdogs and stuff,” Smith said. “So I feel like it’s our time to win this year.”
Gorman girls roll
Bishop Gorman (22-3) punched its ticket with a 70-12 rout of Coronado. Texas commit Aaliah Spaight scored 17 points and recorded seven steals. Anna Barragan added 12 points on four 3-pointers, and Aubrey Johnson had 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Gaels led 24-4 after the first quarter and scored 28 straight points in the second to lead 52-4 at halftime, triggering a running clock with 5:37 before intermission.
“It was great team ball,” Gorman coach Sheryl Krmpotich said. “Defense, I thought we were aggressive both on offense and defense. We just played great team basketball, which is what has got us here the whole time.”
Gorman is seeking its sixth state title under Krmpotich and second in three seasons. “It’s hard to defend one (of us) and we have all five (of our starters) that can score at any give time. That’s key,” she said.
Shayne Lopez led Coronado (10-16) with seven points.
