Prep Girls Basketball: Broncos will play for Division III title

It took 18 years, but the Rancho Bernardo High girls basketball team is headed back to a San Diego Section championship game.

The No. 4 Broncos topped No. 1 Mira Mesa 40-31 Tuesday night in the Division III semifinals, advancing to their first section title game since now athletic director Peggy Brose led the program to a championship in 1997.

The Broncos (13-12) will face No. 3 Kearny for the Division III title Friday at 3:07 p.m. at the University of San Diego. It is quite a turnaround for a program that just two years ago went 6-20.

But Rancho Bernardo coach Kai Harris has been building for a moment like this since taking over in 2012. Last season was the breakout year for the Broncos, as they went 13-12 and won their first playoff game since 2004. They got to the semifinals and fell to La Jolla 57-38.

This time Rancho Bernardo wasn’t denied and will play for a championship on Friday.