AZUSA – Just 21 days after playing his first game for the program, Tre White grabbed a defensive rebound and hit a couple of championship-securing free throws with a second to play for Ribet Academy’s boys’ basketball team’s 52-49 victory over Hesperia early Saturday evening at Azusa Pacific University.
These 2A title victory gave the Fighting Rabbits a second consecutive CIF Southern crown after bagging the 4A title a year ago before winning the State D IV title in Sacramento.
Trailing by nine points going into the fourth quarter, Hesperia (24-7), capitalizing on some turnovers and ill-advised shots by Ribet, and cashing in offensively by way of RaShaw Burrell (a game-high 26 points, 12 in the fourth quarter) and Antonio Singleton (five of his 12 points in the final eight minutes) turned a 180 on the momentum.
Burrell’s baseline drive, while being fouled, and ensuing free throw put the Scorpions up, 49-47, with a little less than two minutes to go.
A couple of turnovers later, the Fighting Rabbits – facing Hesperia’s zone – got the ball to Snookey Wigington on the deep left wing and the 5-8 senior knocked in a 3-pointer for a one-point edge.
Singleton missed a go-ahead jump shot and, after a couple of fouls put Ribet Academy into the 1-and-1, White was fouled but missed the first free throw with 15 seconds to play.
Singleton, at full speed, drove from the left wing, got the ball up on the glass and it barely rolled off the side of the rim, White rebounding and immediately being fouled with a second to go.
White – who played for a school in the Dallas area before heading to Southern California – converted both of his free throws and Tyler Powell (pictured) picked off the ensuing inbound pass toward mid-court.
Powell (just a junior) had 17 points and 12 rebounds, White 11 and 12 and Wigington 16 points.
Each team is expected to be the Division II when the State Southern Regional brackets are released Sunday.
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