LAS VEGAS – Downey’s St. Pius X/St. Matthias squad is “next up” Thursday evening at Bishop Gorman High in the queue to take its pop at defending the basketball savant that is Scottsdale (AZ) Desert Mountain’s Kaden House.
And the thing is, the Warriors — while playing House & Co. in the 12th Tarkanian Classic Platinum Division title game at 4:30 — could do a better job at it than any of the Wolves’ first 10 opponents have done yet still fail to contain him and knock off his team.
The 6-foot-2 sophomore scored 43 points Wednesday night in yet another display of sizzling offensive pyrotechnics to help his team topple Branson (one of NorCal top club), 78-65, in the second Platinum semi played Wednesday.
In the first, Coach Donte Archie’s SP/SM team improved to 7-1 after executing its third consecutive nifty comeback by way of a 62-50 decision for San Diego County powerhouse, St. Augustine (9-2).
The Warriors continued to build a hefty CIF Southern Section Open Division “resume” during their Las Vegas visit by way of wins over physical gifted Henderson (NV) Coronado Monday; Utah’s top-ranked team, Alta, Tuesday night; and, Wednesday, St. Augustine — a program that has won consecutive San Diego Open titles.
And the path to the victory followed pretty much the same script of Monday and Tuesday: Methodically overcoming deficits deep into the second half by was of the overall skills of University of San Francisco-bound Tyrone Riley, the forceful inside presence of 6-8 junior Douglas Langford and the craftiness and fearlessness of 5-8 David Mack.
Mack (pictured), a transfer from L.A. Fairfax, dribble penetrated at will down the stretch — as has been the case all week — sealing things with his team’s last six points via a drive and four free throws.
Archie has a deep bench, as well, as illustrated by the effort turned in by 6-5 freshman Omari Cuff in the third quarter during which his team went from four points down at intermission to up three going into the fourth quarter.
And the Warriors are going to need a collective effort at both ends of the floor to keep House from dictating the outcome Thursday night.
House (along with Kaleb, one of the two sons of former NBA guard Eddie House in the Wolves’ lineup) dominated an entire squad of terrific guards Wednesday night while beating a Branson squad led by University of Illinois-bound Jase Butler and junior TT Carr.
There isn’t a sophomore (although speculation persists, he will “reclassify” to the Class of 2025 at some point this academic year) — or any player, regardless of class — who has been as productive and spectacular offensively in the west this season.
He scored 27 and 37 points, respectively, in his team’s wins over Campbell Hall and the host Gaels — with a bundle of assists, rebounds and steals, too — and scored 24 points with 14 assists and five steals on Dec. 2 in Scottsdale when the Wolves handed SoCal’s Sierra Canyon its only loss.
If you’re not in Las Vegas, you’ve still got a convenient viewing option for the Thursday night showdown by way of BallerTV, which is live-streaming and archiving every game of the event.
*While Kaden was going “House” in Bishop Gorman’s main gym Wednesday, another one of the nation’s best sophomore guards was facing off against a quality — and familiar — opponent.
Six-three Jason Crowe Jr. faced a variety of defenders, double-teams and traps and was “limited” to 31 points as he and his fellow sophomores fell to Redondo Union, 81-64, in a Ball Dawgs consolation game.
The left hander scored 26 points Monday and 50 Tuesday.
Several of the players for Redondo (8-2) — including 6-5 sophomore S.J. Madison, who scored 17 points in the game — are members of the Why Not/Nike EYBL program that is run by Redondo Coach Reggie Morris Jr.
So are Crowe and his terrific teammate, Chace Holly (11 points), as well as the House Brothers of Desert Mountain.
One of the west’s top unsigned seniors, 6-5 guard Devin Ringer, led Redondo with 19 points.
*Among some of the other divisional titles decided in the event Thursday, Stockton Weston Ranch plays Baton Rouge Liberty Magnet at 1:30 for the Ball Dawgs crown in the main gym; Riverside Poly faces Carlsbad in the same building at noon for the Spalding championship and Rancho Verde plays Utah’s Layton Christian, also at noon but in the auxiliary gym, in the Nike finale.
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.