Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now SACRAMENTO — It’s been just over five years since Kobe Bryant and eight others died in a tragic helicopter crash. It’s been nine months since four of Bryant’s proteges from his Mambas youth girls basketball team graduated from Sage Hill. Yet, with his youngest apprentice — Amalia Holguin — still playing for the Lightning and coach Kerwin Walters still at the helm, the influence of the Lakers great remains immense. “Kobe is always going to be straight in the heart for all of us,” Walters said this week, “especially for myself and Amalia. It’s just really, really a personal thing. But he’s always going to be there.” Bryant’s vision for Sage Hill continued to unfold Friday night at the CIF State championships. The Lightning aspired for a second state title in four seasons as they squared off against Carondelet in the Division I final at Golden 1 Center. With Holguin wowing the crowd with her 3-point shooting and passing, Sage Hill brought the energy. Unfortunately, the Lightning struggled at the foul line, and it cost them. Sage Hill made 4 of 14 free throws and fell to Carondelet 51-48 in its bid to become a two-time state champion. Carondelet sank 8 of 11 foul shots, including all four of its chances in the final 45 seconds for the final points of the game. Walters, in his 13th season, and Holguin, the youngest player on Bryant’s famed youth team, shared a long embrace after the final buzzer as the Cougars (30-6) celebrated their first state title since 2004. “This one hurts,” said Walters, who led Sage Hill to the state Division II title in 2022. “They hit free throws, we didn’t. If you can see the numbers, that’s where it all falls right now.” “It’s abnormal for us,” the coach added. “We’re generally in the low 70s, mid 70s in free throw percentage.” Sage Hill (23-12) missed a 3-pointer in the closing seconds in a chance to force overtime Holguin, a junior, hit two of her four 3-pointers in the fourth period en route to a game-high 21 points. While her long-range shooting impressed the crowd, so did her spin move and assist to Kamdyn Klamberg (13 points) to give Sage Hill a 48-47 lead with about one minute left. The play came off one of Holguin’s four steals. Sage Hill started two freshmen, a sophomore and two juniors. “(Bryant) always wanted us to look in the mirror every day,” Holguin said. “I’m going to go home and probably watch some film on this and see how we can get better already for next year. … We’re always looking toward the future and I think we have a bright one.” Carondelet led by as many as seven points in the first half before taking a 24-18 lead into intermission. Holguin (10 points) and Klamberg (eight points) combined for all of the Lightning’s first-half points while seven players scored for Carondelet. The Lightning received more contributions in the second half as freshman Addison Uphoff scored eight points and finished with six rebounds. Freshman center Eve Fowler scored four points to go along with four blocks and nine rebounds.