SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: Escarcega On Preps: Flintridge Prep's Ashley Chea delivers one more memorable performance.

The Princeton-signee scored 28 points in a CIF-State First Round win over Scripps Ranch.

Flintridge Prep coach Kevin Kiyomura and Ashley Chea talk at halftime of the Wolves’ 55-44 win over Scripps Ranch in a CIF State Division II first round game. (Escarcega)

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE – They packed the antiquated Flintridge Prep High School gym one more time on Tuesday night. From parents to students to regular basketball fans, they lined up in droves one last time to see what many consider to be the greatest girls' basketball player to ever play at the school.

Tuesday night was the final night that the great Ashley Chea would be playing at Flintridge Prep High School – and no one wanted to miss it.

It had a feeling of finality to it. It felt like Luciano Pavarotti's last public performance at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Italy. It felt like Derek Jeter's final game at Yankee Stadium in 2014. It had the feel of Kobe Bryant's final game at Staples Center in 2016.

When we are in the presence of greatness, we tend to get selfish. It's OK to admit that. It's not many times in our life when someone is born with greatness drops in from nowhere, graces us with his/her presence, and then says, "That's it, time to move on."

Chea could have said that on Tuesday night, but she instead focused on the game. It was not just a game; it was a CIF State Regional first-round game. A loss and the season would be over. That couldn't happen on a night like this. Keep in mind that Jeter brought in the winning run in his last appearance at Yankee Stadium, and Bryant led the Lakers to an emotional win by scoring 60.

Losing was not in the cards.

Although it was tough to see that in the first half of the Wolves' 55-44 win over Scripps Ranch in a CIF State Division II first-round game. The basket seemed to have a lid over it on both sides of the court. Electrifying passes from Chea that usually are finished off with layups were not going in. Wide-open jump shots were not on target.

The only player that was generating any offense for Flintridge Prep was – you guessed it, Ashley Chea. At the end of the first quarter, it was Scripps Ranch 11, Ashley Chea 11.

And it didn't get any better in the second quarter. Both teams combined for 15 points with the Wolves taking an 18-17 lead to the half. The only Wolves player to score besides Chea was Kassidy Huie with a layup in the final minute of the half.

Scripps Ranch did everything it could to stop Chea in the second half. They double-teamed her, tried to push her around, and switched off defensive responsibilities. However, much like her hero in Kobe Bryant, Chea took her game to another level. She made several no-look passes to Maddie Smith for easy layups. She scored a basket as part of a 10-2 run to start the third period that gave Flintridge Prep a 30-19 lead.

And then, just as she's done to other opponents throughout the year, she took the hearts out of Scripps Ranch and threw it outside the gym into another rainy night in the foothills, as she connected on a step-back three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Wolves 40-27.

The rest of the game was nothing more than an appreciation of the game that Chea has displayed all season long. She hit a jump shot late in the fourth quarter, tripped a player in the process and was called for a technical foul. It was her only blemish on what was another performance for the memory books. She finished as the game's leading scorer with 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. When it was all over, it was time for those closest to the program to sit back and try to comprehend into words what Chea has meant to the school and the program.

"I know that we could have played this game across the street at St. Francis, and it would have been great, but there is nothing like home and we really wanted to do it here," Flintridge Prep co-coach Jayme Kiyomura-Chan said. "One of our fathers put it best on our group chat, 'you better get here on Tuesday night, because the next time you'll see (Chea) is on ESPN.' That is something to be proud of. She'll represent the entire San Gabriel Valley – not just Flintridge Prep."

Chea, who is one of the more understated players in her generation, understands that as time marches on, her legacy will grow. That's what happens when you win CIF Southern Section titles for a program that thrives on being known as the underdog. But for her, it all comes back to the growth that the Wolves have shown all year.

"I'm just so proud of how much we've grown as a team," Chea said. "We've been underdogs for all four of my years here at (Flintridge Prep). Just to show people that we are not just underdogs and that we are just as good as the other teams out there."

There was a person that was missing in the gym Tuesday night that would have been smiling from ear to ear – her name was Kaitlyn Chen.

One of the greatest forwards to have played the game in the west region of the valley is making more history with Princeton University. The bond between Chea and Chen remains as strong today as it was when Chea first arrived on campus. How strong you may ask?

"After the win on Saturday (against Los Osos), (Chen) was the first person that came to mind," Chea said. "I just knew when I was a freshman I needed to learn from her. The bond as a freshman was so special and I had to take many of the freshmen on this team and put them under my wing because it was that important."

Kiyomura-Chan could see the bond as well.

"Kaitlyn mentored Ashley in her freshman year in a way that was very special," Kiyomura-Chan said. "They are not the same kind of players, but she respects (Chen) a lot and respected her decision to go for high academics. She is like the little sister that wants to follow in her footsteps."

When Kiyomura-Chan was asked if we will see anyone like her ever against at Flintridge Prep, the answer was pretty definitive.

"Probably not. She has shattered all the historical records in two seasons here," Kiyomura-Chan said. "She has so many single-season records and if she would have played all four seasons (Chea was injured her sophomore year with an ACL injury), she probably would have broken more records."

Not long after the game was over, with some of the gym lights dimmed (as the school was trying to get spectators to leave the gym), Chea was congratulated by countless students, parents, and fans for a high school career that no one will ever forget.

The flow of the game didn't allow fans to give Chea one final standing ovation, instead, she got countless hugs, fist pumps, and handshakes. Everyone wanted to get one final picture with Chea. Yes, much like Pavarotti, Jeter, and Bryant in their final appearances, fans walked out with huge smiles on their face, something that you can't put a price tag on.

Before arriving at Flintridge Prep, Chea spent time working out at Kobe Bryant's training center in Thousand Oaks and received lessons from what many consider the greatest player to play the game. When she was asked what she still takes from her lessons with Bryant, Chea said, "Kobe said I reminded him of his game."

On Tuesday night, she did her best imitation of Bryant by giving basketball fans one more shining memory and why many will call her the greatest basketball player in the history of San Gabriel Valley. She has earned the right to use these words whenever her high school career comes to an end…

Mamba out!