The next stop for the top-seeded Justin-Siena High School girls basketball team is the CIF Northern California Regional championship game.

The Braves’ 60-48 semifinal win Thursday night over No. 5 Modesto Christian before a packed crowd at Clark Gym was as much about Vicky Deely scoring 32 points as it was about the team’s defense.

Deely led all scorers and also had 11 rebounds, four steals, three blocks and two assists as Justin-Siena (29-3 overall), ranked in state and Northern California polls, extended its 2007-08 season.

The Braves, who capped an undefeated season at home at 13-0, will face No. 6 St. Patrick/St. Vincent-Vallejo (28-5) Saturday at 5 p.m. at Folsom High, with the winner moving on to the state title game March 14 at Arco Arena in Sacramento. It’s part of the 2008 CIF State Basketball Championships presented by Farmers.

St. Pat’s beat No. 2 Valley Christian-San Jose Thursday night, 56-45.

Justin-Siena’s 2-1-2 half-court trapping defense was simply marvelous, holding the high-scoring Crusaders (28-5), the Trans Valley League champion which was playing it second game on the road this week, to just 10 first-half points.

Modesto made the 222-mile trip north to Anderson (Shasta County) Tuesday and the 100-mile drive to Napa.

“We did what we had to do and we were successful,” said Deely, the Braves’ top scorer and rebounder who will attend UC Davis next fall on a basketball scholarship. “I really don’t think they were ready for our defense — it’s something they’ve never seen before.

“We applied pressure and they weren’t ready for that. It created turnovers and it got us easy baskets inside. We took away their lanes. They only scored 10 points in the first half and that’s something we really need to be proud of. Playing a great team like that, we played as hard as we could. We’ve worked so hard all season to reach this.”

Justin-Siena’s second-quarter defensive stand was a difference maker, as Modesto Christian was held to 1-of-13 shooting and the Crusaders were outscored 17-2. Deely had 17 points and was 8-for-9 from the free-throw line in the first half. She was 12-of-15 from the line in another fine all-around game.

“She’s awesome,” coach Mike Boles said of his star player. “We do not take her for granted and I thought she got us off to a great start.

“I think everybody contributed tonight. This time of year, you need everybody to contribute. We were able to disrupt their rhythm. We like to think that 1-for-13’s a credit to our defense.”

The Braves fell behind early 4-0, but Courtney Pardini’s high-arching 3-pointer with 6:25 showing brought the crowd to its feet with a roar that hasn’t been heard in Clark Gym all year. The Crusaders were 3-of-8 from the floor in the first quarter and trailed 12-8 after one period.

Justin-Siena was ahead 29-10 at halftime, as Britney Hyatt had four points.

Deely scored eight points in the third quarter, but Modesto Christian outscored the Braves 20-13 in the period and reduced Justin-Siena’s lead to 12 points at 42-30 entering the final quarter. The Crusaders used a 7-0 run early in the second half to gain momentum.

“Knowing that it was my last home game I just went out there and left it all on the floor,” said Deely. “I wasn’t going to let this team take the Northern California championship away from us.

“It’s something I’ve been working for since my freshman year — to finally get there is an unbelievable feeling. It’s something I’ll never forget.”

Boles was called for a technical foul with 2:08 to go following a non-call on Deely when she drove the lane. But Modesto Christian’s Stefani Agostini missed both free throws. Modesto was trailing 54-43 at the time.

“It probably wasn’t one of my most intelligent maneuvers over the years, but again I thought they were hammering us and I really felt the need to address a concern that was occurring,” said Boles.

Hyatt had 11 points and was 5-for-6 at the line to go along with five assists, four steals and two blocks for the Braves, ranked No. 3 in the CalHiSports.com state Division IV poll and 14th in the Northern California Overall Top 15. The Braves are also No. 1 in the Redwood Empire final rankings and No. 7 in the Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area Top 20.

“All our points come off the defense,” said Hyatt. “We were trying to be really ball-strong with their high-pressure, aggressive defense. I think that helped, too.”

The defensive effort was a continuation of the Braves’ style of play, as they contest passing lanes and contest shooters with pressure.

“Our kids just defend with such a purpose,” said Boles, “because they know how important the defensive end of the floor is. I really felt that going into this game that they had never seen a defense quite as good as ours.”

Kyleigh McAhren had six points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks; Jessica Futo had six points, four assists, four blocks, three rebounds and three steals; Pardini had two blocks and Rachelle Whitehead came off to the bench for two points and two rebounds.

“We get to go play another game,” said Boles. “There’s four (Division IV) teams left in the state of California and we’re one of them. That’s pretty cool.”

The win was Justin-Siena’s fifth in a row. The Braves won three straight playoff games, capped by an NCS title-game win over St. Pat’s at Oracle Arena. The Braves were coming off a win over No. 8 Santa Cruz in the first round of NorCals.

“I’m really proud of how we played. I think we played really well as a team once again,” said Hyatt. “It’s really exciting to move on. We don’t want to stop. We want at least two more games.”

Modesto Christian lost in the championship game of the Sac-Joaquin Section finals to Christian Brothers-Sacramento, but brought a formidable offense that has scored 80 or more points six times. Agostini scored 14 points, featuring three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and four overall. Brandi Henton had 14 points, Taryn Garza added 10 points, Jessica Graham posted six points and Lauren Lucchesi had four.

Modesto Christian cut Justin-Siena’s lead to nine points at 54-45 with 1:43 to go.

“They were real physical,” said Henton. “We play physical, too, but they were just stronger.”