SACRAMENTO — The Vintage High School girls basketball team went on quite a run to make the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs.

Winners of six of their last seven games, the Crushers were rolling heading into Thursday’s first-round game, but Vintage ran into a team that was on a similar streak.

Top-seeded Kennedy used a 25-7 run to close out the third quarter as the Cougars, winners of 13 of their last 14, eliminated the Crushers 68-38.

Vintage seemingly had the momentum to start the third quarter — cutting Kennedy’s 11-point halftime lead to seven points at 31-24 — before the Cougars turned up the heat.

“They have some tremendous athletes,” Vintage coach Dave Hollman said. “John Wooden said basketball is about quickness and balance and they have that. They are the number-one seed for a reason.”

Senior guard Jazzi Johnson was once again the star for Kennedy (25-3). The Cougars’ leading scorer had 20 points, four assists and four steals to lead a relentless Kennedy team that forced Vintage into 19 turnovers.

Melody Khlok had 16 points and 11 rebounds and Shanice Butler had 12 points and nine rebounds as Kennedy’s big three combined for 48 points.

The Cougars will face ninth-seeded Burbank (18-10) at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Galt High School. Burbank defeated No. 8 Tracy 50-28.

“Johnson is a tremendous athlete,” said Hollman, whose team finished 16-12 on the season and made the playoffs for the first time in five years. “I’m so proud of our team. They did not quit.”

Vintage was led by Katie Corkett’s 12 points. The junior guard keyed Vintage’s early run in the third.

Leading scorer Jessica Zeller was held to just five points but did lead the Crushers in rebounding with six boards, as the senior showed the grit and determination that epitomized the Crushers’ senior class.

Zeller had the tough task of guarding Johnson early in the game.

“The seniors have been great,” Hollman said. “When you get good athletes who live in the gym, you will make the playoffs.”

Audrey Maher, Melissa Loper, Jessica Loper and Jessica Zeller all played their last games for Vintage, who will return six players next season.

Maher scored four points and had four rebounds, while Jessica Loper had four points, three rebounds and two assists.

“They are all tough blue-collar workers,” said Hollman about his seniors, who broke a seven-game Big Game losing streak to cross-town rival Napa on Feb. 2 and won two of three games against the Indians.

“We have some talent returning next year, but they have some big shoes to fill.”

Vintage will return guards Lauren Bishofberger and Corkett; wings Katie Ovando and Katie Montez and posts Kelsey Zeller and Jordan Price next winter.