LA VERNE, Ca. – Schedules – and opponents – were changing on the fly, via COVID issues, on Thursday’s final day of the Classic at Damien boys’ basketball tournament.
But, by the time the final game tipped off in Damien High’s Athletic Center Thursday night, California’s top team – the Corona Centennial Huskies – faced another tough challenge for the third night in a row.
And Coach Josh Giles’ squad – despite falling behind by four points late in the third quarter – followed its Tuesday and Wednesday MO (in come-from-behind wins over St. John Bosco and Etiwanda) in knocking off unbeaten Irvine Crean Lutheran, 66-56.
The Huskies (12-1), following its win against Etiwanda and Riverside Poly’s victory against Damien Wednesday night in semifinals, were set to play the Bears in Thursday’s Platinum Division championship game.
But, late Thursday morning, event officials were alerted that Riverside Poly’s team had been placed in COVID protocol by the school’s administration.
And, a few hours later, Long Beach Poly – scheduled to play Crean Lutheran in the Gold title game followings the Jackrabbits’ semifinal win over Fresno San Joaquin Memorial – was forced to withdraw from the Gold finale with COVID issues of its own.
That led to bumping the Etiwanda vs. Meridian (ID) Owyhee Platinum third-place contest into the “Gold championship” time slot.
And Giles and Crean Lutheran Coach Nate Klitzing agreed to event organizers’ short-notice suggestion that their teams play in the “Platinum” time slot in what would be deemed a “showcase” contest.
And each squads’ players did their parts to put on quite a “show” for the crowd in the Athletic Center and those watching from home on the Bally’s Sports Network.
The Huskies, beyond the “rim-running”, shot-blocking and rebounding of 6-foot-10 junior Devin Williams (pictured/he scored a team-high 16 points), sprinted to a 26-10 advantage early in the second quarter.
But the Saints (who suffered their first loss after 10 wins), behind sophomore guard Vyctorius Miller and versatile, 6-9 forward Koat Keat (14 points), trimmed the deficit to six points at intermission.
And they were up late by four points before the third quarter ended with the score tied at 45.
Terrific play by starting guard Ramsey Huff (13 points) and reserve sophomore forward Eric Freeny helped put the Huskies up, 55-51, before Miller countered with two free throws with 2:47 to go.
Junior guard Jared McCain, with two free throws and a 3, padded the Centennial advantage to seven points with 2:07 remaining.
Keat’s 3 from the left wing cut his squad’s deficit to four points with 1:52 to go before two free throws by Platinum MVP Donovan Dent and a buzzer-beating dunk by Williams led to the final score.
Six-five sophomore Liam Campbell of Owyhee, with 26 points in the 65-57 win against Etiwanda that gave his team a 3-1 record in the event, finished with 107 points as the week’s top scorer
In other title games Thursday:
DIAMOND
Highland (UT) Lone Peak 67, Santa Clarita Christian 62.
MVP: McKay Tanner (LP).
SILVER
Rancho Cucamonga 48, San Gabriel Academy 43.
MVP: Shadale Knight (RC).
BRONZE
Ponderosa 79, Bell Gardens 55.
MVP: Aaron Bliss (P).
GREEN
Pomona 71, Western Christian 67.
MVP: Bryce Harris (P).
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