ONTARIO, Ca. – The first three games served as appetizers to what proved to be the “main course” of the annual boys’ basketball Rolling Hills Prep State Preview Saturday.
And that finale, pitting the teams rated No.’s 12 (Chaminade) and 19 (the host Colony Titans) in last week’s BurlisonOnBasketball “21 for 20021”, proved quite tasty indeed for any hoopsters’ palette.
The Titans, behind the play of Santa Clara-bound point guard Brenton Knapper and a precocious sophomore class, burst out to a 15-point edge in the closing moments of the first half before falling behind and then pulling the win out, 72-69.
The event is normally played at Harbor College in San Pedro.
But COVID-19 conditions necessitated the change in locations, with only family members, game officials, and event staff and media allowed in.
The gym was cleared between each game, with the bleachers and sitting areas disinfected.
Spectacular guard K.J. Simpson – who scored 17 of his game-high 30 points after intermission – sank two free throws to get his Chaminade team to within a point with 2:36 to go.
Knapper (16 points, eight assists and three steals) took an 18-footer a tad earlier than he probably should have and, after the Eagles cleared the rebound, the visitors went up by a point after a wide-open jumper from the right wing by Keith Higgins Jr. (27 points) with 1:58 remaining.
But Colony Coach Jerry DeFabiis couldn’t have been more pleased with the way his team responded to improve to 14-1.
In a scrum for a loose ball, 6-foot-3 sophomore Kollen Murphy was fouled and hit the second end of the two free-throw attempts to tie the score at 66 with 1:36 to go.
Senior Jay Payind (whose only three points to that point came via free throws) missed a jumper at the other end for the Eagles and, subsequently junior Jaden Henley and sophomore Donald Bluitt hooked up on a pick-and-roll, Henley rolling, catching and converting a bucket while being fouled by Higgins.
After the Henley free throw pushed the Titans’ advantage to three points, Simpson couldn’t convert on a drive.
Henley was fouled with 15.9 seconds remaining and hit just one of the two free throws – meaning Higgins’ deep 3 from the right wing, opposite his bench, still left the Eagles a point short.
After a near-immediate timeout by Chaminade Coach Bryan Cantwell was granted with 7.5 seconds to go, Bluitt inbounded to Henley with the subsequent foul and official’s whistle still leaving 6.7 seconds remaining.
Henley (who scored nine of his 11 points in the fourth quarter) dropped in both free throws and, after the ball was inbounded to Simpson who took a quick dribble to mid court, Cantwell was granted a timeout with 2.5 seconds to go.
DeFabiis, after glancing at the alignment the Eagles took as they preparing to inbound following their timeout, used a timeout of his own to adjust his defense accordingly.
When play finally resumed, Payind inbounded to Higgins who turned, took a dribble and launcedh a 35-footer that was just short as the buzzer was sounding.
And, for those wondering, “yes, we talked about immediately fouling whoever caught the inbound pass,” said DeFabiis, in reference to possibility trying to prevent a tying 3-pointer by fouling before an attempt could be launched, leaving Chaminade with two free throws while still trailing by three points.
“But those guys (Simpson and Higgins) are so strong and so good, I was afraid that’d they be able to catch the ball and get up a shot while we were trying to foul them (and getting three free throws, even if they missed, as a result).”
Chaminade (11-2) suffered its only other loss in a Mission League game, at home, to Harvard-Westlake April 17.
The rematch at Harvard-Westlake Wednesday night has implications for each team not only for a league title but for the make up of the CIF Southern Section’s eight-team Open Division.
And the Titans find themselves atop the Palomares League standings, which isn’t particularly surprising.
But – especially after knocking off Chaminade – they’re also in the hunt for a spot in the Open Division playoffs.
And that is something beyond mildly surprising.
Colony lost Denim Dawson (a 6-5 forward and three-season starter) and then Kylan Boswell (a terrific guard who started as a freshman), via transfer, to Orange Lutheran and Corona Centennial, respectfully, last spring.
But those losses didn’t make a dent in the 2020-21 expectations – if and when the season was going to take place – for those closest to the program.
“We wished them best of luck and don’t hold any ill will toward them,” DeFabiis said of Dawson and Boswell, who helped the Titans go 20-9 last season.
Dawson was a freshman starter on the 2017-18 team, with Knapper, that won Southern Section and State Regional titles before losing in the State Division II title game.
“But we looked at it as opportunities for the guys who stayed in the program – a ‘next guy up’ situation.”
Knapper (pictured) isn’t surprised at the impressive play of his younger teammates, notably Henley (a junior) and the aforementioned sophomore class that includes starters in Murphy (who, at approaching 6-3, has growing more than five inches since early in his freshman season), Jaidyn Simpson (also 6-3) and Denzel Hines (6-6).
Murphy (a left-hander with stunning speed on the dribble), Simpson and Hines combined for 48 points with Hines grabbing 12 rebounds.
“Coach (DeFabiis) and I had a lot of faith in these guys,” said Knapper, who was often matched against the University of Colorado-bound Simpson Saturday evening.
“We knew what they were capable of doing if they continued to work hard.”
And – especially in light of their 14th win Saturday – so should anyone who follows SoCal prep hoops closely.
A look at the other three games played Saturday:
Damien 84, Santa Monica 44: The Spartans, less than 24 hours after a loss at Etiwanda on a buzzer-beating 3 in a Baseline League showdown, bounced back resoundingly with junior guards R.J. Smith (26) and Spivey Word combining for 49 points, including seven 3s.
Six-eight sophomore Jimmy Oladokun Jr. added 16 points, 11 rebounds and four steals as Damien improved to 21-2.
The game wasn’t added to the Spartans’ schedule on Friday afternoon when Mater Dei withdraw as the Vikings’ opponent.
Hence, Damien was without leading scorer and USC-bound Malik Thomas, who attended the Upland High prom Saturday with his girlfriend, a student at the school.
Harvard-Westlake 78, Crean Lutheran 44: The Wolverines improved to 12-2 with their ninth consecutive victory, getting scoring balance across all four classes.
Senior Adam Hinton scored a team-high 21 points, while Hinton’s brother, Rob, was one of three freshmen – along with Trent Perry and Liam Campbell – that Coach David Rebibo as on the floor for a lot of the game.
The younger Hinton had a resounding transition dunk in the second quarter while Campbell scored a career-high 14 points.
The Saints, who dropped to 8-2, got 14 points from junior guard Jack Fairchild.
Rolling Hills Prep 60, Loyola 30: The Huskies improved to 4-0 and the Cubs dropped to 5-8 in the first game played Saturday.
Junior point guard Benny Gealer had eight assists, seven steals and seven points for Coach Harvey Kitani’s club.
Forwards Seydi Thiombane (23) and Kenny Manzi (12) combined for 35 points for the Huskies.
Senior forward Remington Rofer led the Cubs with 12.
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