DUBLIN, Ca. — The “North” and “South” split their two high-profile matchups Saturday during the nine-game, 16th NorCal Tip-Off Classic at Dublin High.
*Eastvale (located about nine miles north of Corona, for those familiar with Riverside County) Roosevelt trailed 5-zip before reeling off 19 consecutive points en route to 77-72 victory over San Francisco Riordan.
The 5-0 Mustangs hit 10 3-pointers in the first half (they finished with 14) while going in front by as many as 21 points before intermission.
That advantage was 19 points going into the final quarter before Coach Steve Singleton’s offense bogged down via rushed/ill-advised shot attempts (usually, after one pass beyond mid-court) and six missed free throws.
And one of the state’s best sophomores, 6-foot-3 Andrew Hillman, scored 14 of his team-high 25 points over the final eight minutes, during which the Crusaders outscored Roosevelt, 25-11.
As was the case in the four wins against SoCal competition (during which they outscored their foes by an average of 37 points), the Mustangs were paced by 6-5 junior Brayden Burries, who scored 17 of his game-high 28 points in the first half. He added eight rebounds, five blocked shots and four steals.
Junior guards Issac Williamson (five for all his 15 points) and Myles Walker (two 3s, nine points, seven assists and four steals), and Colorado State-bound Darnez Slater (18 points, including four 3s, and 11 rebounds) were also terrific for Singleton’s crew.
Riordan, in its opener, was playing without two of what should be among its key players this season in junior forward Jasir Rencher (as part of a three-game, CIF-directed suspension because of a fracas with Sacramento Inderkum in the Northern Regional playoffs last spring) and 6-10 center Steve Emeneke (a transfer from Woodside Priory in Portola Valley who is expected to be eligible at the end of December).
St. Mary’s-bound forward Zion Sensley scored 23 points for the Crusaders but missed 19 of his 28 shots from the field.
Roosevelt will get a lot “taller”, soon, as 6-11 Tochi Anigbogu (a transfer from Centennial) is expected to be eligible in time for the team’s Dec. 27 opener at the Classic at Damien.
The “North” got its win in the finale, as Concord De La Salle’s 15-point advantage was pared to a point in the fourth quarter by Corona Centennial before the Spartans regrouped in the final few minutes to pull away, 62-51.
Coach Marcus Schroeder has a squad capable of challenging the likes of Riordan and Richmond Salesian as Northern California’s best this season.
And that was evident throughout vs. the Huskies of Coach Josh Giles.
Leo Ricketts (pictured) is one of the state’s most underrated and underrecruited “point guard-types” in California, as he demonstrated by while hitting five 3s en route to 21 points (seven of those in the fourth quarter).
And Ibrahim Monawar showed that, like Andrew Hillman, he’s one of the best sophomores in the state while hitting four 3s and scoring 22 points for the Spartans.
Junior forward Braddock Kjellesvig (a transfer from Gilroy Christopher) was the “x factor” off bench for the Spartans, grabbing eight rebounds with five assists and six points.
But the linchpin to the team’s success was 6-6 junior Alec Blair.
The left-handed, power-hitter for the school’s baseball team didn’t produce eye-popping numbers (seven points, six rebounds and three assists).
But his ball-handling, passing and decision-making were major elements in the team’s offensive efficiency.
How so? The Crusaders were up by 10 points when he was whistled for his fourth foul (and was removed from the game by Schroeder) with 2:32 to go in the third quarter.
By the time he came back onto the floor (with 5:13 remaining), the lead had been whittled to three points. And then it was cut to a point on the Huskies’ next possession.
But the offense started clicking again for the Spartans, as Kjellesvig found Blair for a layup and then Monawar for another 3 on consecutive possessions.
Six-eight transfer Carter Bryant — making his debut after his eligibility was cleared earlier in the week after missing his team’s first three games — did his best to keep the Huskies within striking distance, scoring 18 points with 11 rebounds and four blocked shots.
A look at the other seven games played Saturday:
*Danville San Ramon Valley 70, Sacramento Capital Christian 56: Junior guard Luke Isaak led four Wolves in double-figure scoring with 21 points (with five rebounds) while senior center Seamus Deely added game-highs of 10 rebounds and four assists.
The Cougars were led by the 18 points, nine rebounds and three steals from junior guard Jaylen Valdez and a combined 23 points from sophomore forwards Myles Wiggins (14 points and 11 rebounds) and Mohammed Kamara.
San Ramon Valley won the Gold Division of the Classic at Damien last December. The Wolves will be joined by Branson, Dublin, De La Salle, Centennial and Roosevelt as six of the programs from the NorCal Tip-Off that will participate in next month’s Classic at Damien.
*Ross Branson 65, San Jose Mitty 58: University of Illinois-bound Jase Butler turned in one of the day’s best individual performances — 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists — as the Bulls prevailed in Demetrius Roquemore’s debut as the program’s head coach.
Future NCAA D-1 players Gavin Ripp (University of San Diego/16 points and eight rebounds) and Tyler Jones (UC Riverside/15 points and three assists) paced the Monarchs while junior guard Semetri Carr added 16 points, seven rebounds and three steals for Branson.
*Fresno Clovis West 78, Fairfield Vanden 64: Six-four junior guard A.J. Stickman poured in an efficient 32 points (14 of 18 from the field, including one of two 3s, and three of five free throws) to help his team dig itself out of a 10-point second-quarter deficit and pull away in the second half.
*Stockton Weston Ranch 85, Bakersfield Christian 72: Senior guard Izaias White scored 22 points and grabbed five rebounds as the Cougars used their superior depth and scoring balance to overcome the 41-point effort by Eagles junior guard Gabriel Gutierrez.
*San Francisco St. Ignatius 63, Dublin 54: The host Gaels led by 14 points in the second quarter and 11 after three periods before being outscored, 25-9 over the final eight points.
Sophomore Raymond Whitley and junior Vince Crisp scored 23 and 22 points, respectively, for the Wildcats.
The Gaels — whose 20 turnovers were a huge factor in the outcome — got 20 points and 12 rebounds from junior Jalen Stokes.
*Stockton Lincoln 73, Concord Ygnacio Valley 60: Six-six junior Anthony Moore scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds as the Trojans came from 11 points down in the second quarter to pull away after intermission.
Junior Antonio Kellogg Jr. and sophomore Jalan Cody scored 17 points apiece for the Wolves.
*San Jose Bellarmine 68, Oakland Head Royce 49: Brothers Nick (a 6-7 senior) and Will (a 6-foot sophomore) Corbett combined for 30 points, 11 rebounds and four assists as the Bells cruised during the 8 a.m. event opener.
Another 6-7 senior, Julian Gospich, added 15 points and eight rebounds for the winners while junior guard Micah Nyamuzuwe led the Jayhawks with 12 points.
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