LONG BEACH, Ca. – Las Vegas Bishop Gorman and three Southern California squads picked up wins Saturday – the last three of those by oh-so-slim margins – to advance to Sunday’s semifinals of the seventh Ron Massey Memorial Fall Hoops Classic at McBride High.
Coach Grant Rice’s Bishop Gorman program – which didn’t play last season due to Nevada COVID-19 restrictions – won the Massey event in 2018 and ’19.
It wasn’t held a year ago due to California’s COVID-19 guidelines.
The Gaels trailed Valencia (CA) West Ranch by 10 points late in the first half of the first quarterfinal played Saturday evening but outscored the Wildcats by 39 points the rest of the way to prevail, 84-55.
Sophomore guard Jase Richardson (17) and senior forward Darrion Williams (18) combined for 35 points for the victors.
The left-handed Richardson (pictured) is the son of Jason Richardson, who averaged 17.1 points per game over his 14 years as an NBA player.
The Gaels will take on another Southern California program, St. John Bosco, in Sunday’s second semifinal set for 12:30 p.m.
The Braves, who return 6-foot-8 posts Christian Estrada and Jeremiah Nyarko from the team that won the California Southern Regional Div. I title last June, overcame the 37-point effort of junior guard Tyler Rolison to edge St. Bernard, 73-72.
The final two seconds of regulation weren’t played following a mosh of players from both teams and, apparently, some spectators from along the baseline on the Vikings’ side of the court.
Rolison and his teammates, who led by as many as seven points late in the second half, got possession of the ball with 21.9 seconds to go following consecutive spectacular blocked shots by senior forward Malachi Roach.
Rolison – a key member of the Why Not EYBL 16s squad that won the Peach Jam in July – penetrated from the left side of the lane and, when swarmed by the Braves’ defense, flipped a pass toward junior James McCallum, who was rolling to the rim.
But Braves’ senior guard D.J. Henry broke the pass up and recovered the ball before being fouled along the baseline with two seconds to play, triggering a confrontation that was neutralized before nothing more than egos were hurt.
Rolison – who should be in any conversation about the elite Class of 2023 point guards anywhere in high school hoops – hit four 3s and would have scored 40-plus if he hadn’t missed nine of his 24 free throws.
The Braves’ significant size advantage and balancing scoring – Nyarko scored 13 points, Estrada 12 and Henry 11 – were tough for the Vikings to deal with the entire game.
Coach Matt Dunn’s team got a couple of critical deep 3s in the second half by junior guard Mateo Duran and nifty “freshmen debuts” by 6-4 Elzie Harrington (who should be among Southern California’s better point-guard “types” before too deep into the season) and 6-7 Kade Bonam. They combined for 16 points and at least half that many “my, oh, my!” plays.
Setting up the other Sunday championship semifinal (set for 11:20) were the Mater Dei (59-58 in overtime) and Bishop Montgomery (59-56) victories over Northridge (CA) Heritage Christian and Henderson (NV) Liberty, respectively.
Heritage Christian – which lost California’s best freshman last season, Isaiah Elohim, by transfer to Sierra Canyon but picked up several quality players from Ribet Academy’s now-disbanded program – led the bulk of the second half against the Monarchs.
D.J. Dudley, an all-L.A. City selection as a junior at Fairfax who had planned to play for Ribet Academy this season, hit two free throws to put Heritage Christian up with 16 seconds to go.
But junior post Nick Davidson hit a back-cutting senior Jack McCloskey for a go-ahead layup with four seconds remaining to put Mater Dei back in front.
Senior point guard Barrington Hargress, an all-CIF Southern Section Open Division selection at Ribet Academy last season, was well off on a 45-footer at the buzzer. He scored 20 points while Dudley added 21.
Six-senior senior Kaden Minter, who hit back-to-back 3s in overtime before McCloskey’s decisive bucket, led all scorers with 28 points for the Monarchs.
He’ll challenge for all-Trinity, all-Orange County and all-Southern Section honors this season for Coach Gary McKnight’s crew.
Bishop Montgomery only got about five minutes from either of his 6-8 junior posts (Xavier Edmonds was in street clothes and Santa Monica High transfer Will Brenner went to the bench was a twisted left ankle in the early going) but used its half-court defense, quickness edge and timely scoring of junior forward Will Smith (14 points) and senior guard Jalen Vazquez (19) to eke its way into Sunday’s first semifinal.
Big, strong (all of 6-8 and something approaching 240-plus pounds) and skilled senior Joshua Jefferson scored 27 points with 11 rebounds for Liberty.
Heritage takes on Liberty (9 a.m.) and West Ranch plays St. Bernard (10:10) in Sunday’s consolation semifinals.
The championship game is set for 5:10.
There were also 16 “showcase” games played Saturday on the two-court configuration in the McBride gymnasium.
Long Beach St. Anthony (Los Altos and San Diego San Ysidro) and Temecula Rancho Christian (Newport Pacifica Christian) won both of their games.
Included from among the multitude of individual standouts during the Showcases tilts were seniors Elijah Price (St. Anthony) and Benny Gealer (Rolling Hills Prep); juniors Jazz Gardener (Los Altos), Ariik Mawien (Capistrano Valley Christian) and Dennis Evans (Riverside Hillcrest); and sophomore Carter Bryant (Fountain Valley)
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