LA VERNE, Ca. – It was the finale of the fourth Classic at Damien Tournament Monday night in the school’s Athletic Center, played in front of a crowd that was strictly SRO-mode by late afternoon, nearly two games before the Platinum Division title clash between defending champion Rancho Christian and Sierra Canyon, which was unbeaten and ranked No. 6 nationally.
And the Eagles and Trailblazers delivered on the pre-tip off hyperbole and expectation, giving the crowd 36 minutes of on-court action that was classic, indeed.
In a confrontation that produced a wealth of content for social media videographers who seemingly chronicled every on-court moment in real time, Coach Ray Barefield’s Rancho Christian team needed a four-minute overtime – and nails efforts by each of his starters and his only reserve that played, Jayce Catchings – to hand Sierra Canyon its first loss after 14 wins, 85-81.
The Eagles (14-2) had so much to overcome to become the repeat champions in the division, including a 10-point deficit (44-34) three minutes into the third quarter, as well as another eye-popping performance by the Trailblazers’ University of Kentucky-bound B.J. Boston (who finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds and five assists).
If that wasn’t daunting enough, there was also the significant Roadblock to Repeat by way of 6-foot-8 Ziaire Williams, the Sherman Oaks Notre Dame transfer who made his Sierra Canyon debut Monday night in often-spectacular fashion with 28 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and a couple of blocked shots.
But persevere they did, as Gonzaga-bound guard Dominick Harris (pictured, shown on a first-half drive against Williams and Boston) – largely the architect of the Eagles’ third-quarter rally – scored a game-high 30 points and Evan Mobley (16 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and five blocked shots) took home the Platinum Most Outstanding Player hardware for the second year in a row.
They also got double-figure scoring from junior guard Jaden Byers (19 points, eight of those – including a 3 from the left wing to start things – coming in OT) and the 6-5 Catchings (13 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals).
The Eagles seemingly had things in control late in regulation and the OT.
But, Monday night, seemingly was pretty much moot.
With his team up 69-65, Byers missed two free throws – which he made up for, bigtime, in OT – with 26 seconds to go and Boston went full-speed immediately on the dribble for a reverse layup and, the Eagles committed a turnover near mid-court.
Following a timeout, Williams – after an inbound pass from Boston from along the baseline – scored to tie the score and Byers couldn’t convert a potential game-winning layup at the regulation buzzer.
A pair from free throws apiece from Harris and Byers, followed by a blocked shot (against Terrence Frank, who had stuffed him in the fourth quarter) and dunk by Mobley, gave the Eagles their seven-point lead, at 78-71, and forced Sierra Canyon Coach Andre Chevalier to call a timeout with 2:15 to go.
Boston, fouled on a drive, got a couple of free throws before Byers (following a Mobley rebound and outlet) scored in transition to get the edge back to seven.
But Williams answered with his fourth 3 – over the long right arm and hand of Mobley – from the right wing and, after an Eagles’ turnover, Boston scored while being fouled by Mobley and added the free throw to get the Trailblazers to within a point with 1:18 remaining.
Taking the possession deep into the shot clock, Harris missed on a drive but the Eagles snatched the offensive rebound and Byers was fouled with 35 seconds to go.
He swished both attempts and, at the other end, Williams missed on a potential tying 3 but, after grabbing the rebound, Harris was whistled for traveling with 18 seconds remaining.
Boston missed on a 3 from the right wing (in front of his bench), forward Luke Turner rebounded for the Eagles and hit the first of two free throws with 4.6 seconds to go for a seemingly – and you know what relevance that word had to this game – safe four-point edge.
Williams launched from deep again over the out-stretched right arm of Mobley and the ball rimmed in and out.
The only thing, Mobley’s arm was too out-stretched – and he was whistled for the foul with 1.4 tics on the clock.
Williams swished the first two attempts to cut the gap to two points but – missing intentionally in the attempt to grab the ball and score to secure a second OT – was whistled for getting into the lane before the ball hit iron.
Harris was fouled on the inbound pass, and knocked in points 29 and 30 to call it a night.
And what a night it was . . .
It’s not a stretch, either, to suggest that it was just the first of four clashes between the high-powered squads.
The “rematch” will come quickly – during a January 11 “showcase”, multi-game event at Pasadena City College.
And there could be “Rounds 3 and 4”, during the CIF Southern Section Open final on Feb. 29 (at Long Beach State) and in the State Southern Regional title game (March 10).
That isn’t lost on Mobley.
“I wasn’t too concerned,” he said in his usual stoic fashion as mostly only team, family (mom Nicol, dad and USC assistant Eric and brother and USC freshman Isaiah) and extended family (Compton Magic administrators, players and alumni) members lingered on the court with Damien staff and clean-up crew, some 20 minutes or so after the fact.
He was referencing the 10-point, third-quarter deficit; the missed fourth-quarter free throws by Byers; and the shaky moments with leads late in the fourth quarter and OT.
“Our guys are dogs,” he said, meaning – of course – tough-minded, no-quit-in-them-kind-of-fellas.
“I knew he (Byers) would bounce back and I knew we’d find a way (to win). We came into this game wanting to make a statement.”
And he knows it’s far from the last of the statements he and his teammates are going to have to make if they want to be playing deep into the spring – maybe all the way to sectional, regional and state (in Sacramento on March 14) Open championship games.
“We’re going to celebrate but we can’t be too (excited) about what we did tonight,” he said.
“We’ve got to rest and stay focused because it’s a long season.”
In the Platinum third-place game played just prior to the Sierra Canyon-Rancho Christian tilt, Etiwanda – also rallying from a 10-point, third-quarter deficit – edged St. John Bosco, 57-54.
Jaylen Clark – a transfer from Corona Centennial make his Eagles’ debut – scored all of his team-high 16 points in the second half.
In the other four divisional finals played Monday at Damien:
Gold
Canyon Country Santa Clarita Christian 75, L.A. Washington Prep 52: Left-handed guards Ty Harper (the division Most Outstanding Player) and Josh O’Garro combined for 42 points and senior post Kaleb Lowery added 14 and nine rebounds as the Cardinals – who handed Rancho Christian one of its losses on Dec. 6 – improved to 11-3.
They have a “rematch” with Mobley & Co. Saturday night in the Real Run Winter Classic at Bishop Montgomery High.
Silver
La Canada St. Francis 52, Honolulu Maryknoll 47: UC Irvine-bound guard Andre Henry was nothing short of superb as the Golden Eagles – trailing by nine points after three quarters – rallied to improve to 16-4.
Henry finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds – seven points, six rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot coming in the fourth quarter.
Bronze
Indio Shadow Hills 66, West Torrance 57: Division Most Outstanding Player Dominic Escobar scored 17 points in what was the game with his team’s tightest margin of victory following tourney victories of 21, 31 and 16 points.
Green
Downey St. Pius X/St. Matthias 60, Moorpark 45: Six-seven junior Ethan McCanless (13 points) was the Most Outstanding Player after leading the Warriors to the championship in the first year of the division.
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