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Frank Burlison | High School Basketball | College Basketball

Roosevelt closes Classic with classic Platinum finish

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LA VERNE – Division Most Outstanding Player Brayden Burries led a collective outstanding performance by Eastvale Roosevelt Saturday night, helping the Mustangs build a 16-point advantage before hanging on for a 68-65 win over St. John Bosco in the Platinum championship game of the 7th Classic at Damien.

The title game capped four days of  superb play in the 16-team division, with overtime games in Friday night’s semifinals and a third-place game earlier Saturday in which Northern California’s top-team, Richmond Salesian (62-59 over the host Spartans) didn’t secure its victory until Xavier Clinton missed on a 3-pointer from the left corner as the buzzer sounded.

Coach Steve Singleton’s Mustangs (16-1) came into the event No. 5 in the Burlison On Basketball SoCal Top 25. Coach Matt Dunn’s Braves, who dropped to 13-2, were No. 2.

It was a matchup of squads that have beyond reasonable aspirations of being among the eight teams in the CIF Southern Section’s Open Division playoff field.

The Mustangs never trailed, building a 14-point advantage at intermission with their ability to drive by defenders and find jump shooters – who hit a combined eight 3s in the first 16 minutes of play.

The advantage was at 15 points (59-44) after an Issac Williamson 3 from the right wing with about six minutes to go after a pass from Myles Walker.

But, as in the case the night before against Salesian, sophomore Brandon McCoy Jr.  and juniors Elzie Harrington and Kade Bonam were darn-near relentless in their determination to do whatever needed to pull out the win.

They combined for 17 points (eight of those from the 6-foot-7 Bonam) in the frenetic rally, with McCoy busted a 3 from the deep right corner off an baseline out-of-bounds pass to cut the Mustangs’ edge to three points (65-62) with 11.5 seconds to go in regulation.

Williamson (who scored nine of his team-high 17 points in the fourth quarter) needed a timeout to avoid a five-second call before his inbound pass.

When played resumed, he got the ball into Burries who was fouled with nine seconds remaining, sending him to the free-throw line.

Burries (15 points, 12 rebounds and four assists) missed his first attempt but swished the second for a four-point advantage.

On the ensuing inbounds pass, the Braves turned the ball over and Williamson converted both free throws with 2.9 tics to go before Jack Turner’s 3 at the buzzer.

Burries was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Williamson, Walker (five points, eight assists and four steals) and Colorado State-bound Darnez Slater (16 points).

McCoy (16 points), Turner (18), Harrington (15) and Bonam (13) repped the Braves on the all-tourney squad.

 

Third place

Richmond Salesian 62, Damien 59: The Pride (13-1), who lost in OT to St. John Bosco Friday night, trailed the Spartans (13-3) by six points early in the fourth quarter before outscoring the hosts 12-3 down the stretch.

Terrific University of Hawaii-point point guard Aaron Claytor scored 13 points with eight assists and three steals for Salesian while being joined as an all-tournament selection by senior teammate Zander Jimenez.

Seven-foot junior Nate Garcia wrapped up a strong week for the Spartans (22 points, 14 rebounds and three assists) while senior teammate Xavier Clinton was also an all-tourney choice.

Fifth place

Corona Centennial 64, Meridian (ID) Owyhee 54: Sophomore guard Isaiah Rogers capped an all-tournament week for the Huskies (12-7) with a 22-point effort that included five 3s. And USC-bound Liam Campbell was all-Classic for a record third time while leading Owyhee with 22 points.

Seventh place

Concord De La Salle 69, American Fork (UT) 68: Senior guard Leo Ricketts scored 22 points for the Spartans, whose 3-1 week gives them a 13-1 record while the Cavemen – led by senior guard Jared Shepherd’s 33 points – dropped to 7-5. Junior Alec Blair of DLS and Tiger Cuff of American (for the second year in a row) were all-tourney selections.

Consolation

  L.A. Windward 70, Branson 61: The Wildcats (13-3) trailed by 12 points late in the third quarter before rallying for their third win in a row against non-CIF Southern Section competition after opening with a four-point loss to Salesian.

Point guards Gavin Hightower (a Windward junior) and Jase Butler (a Branson senior bound for the University of Illinois) were all-tourney choices.

The other Saturday platinum results: Clovis North 73, Campbell Hall 67; Chandler (AZ) Basha 62, La Mirada 60; Phoenix Sunnyslope 74, Heritage Christian 62. Other all-Platinum selections: Connor Amundsen (Clovis North) and John Mattingly (Sunnyslope).

 

In the other championship games:

GOLD

  Danville San Ramon Valley 69, St. George (UT) Dixie 68: Junior guard Luke Isaak, after taking a pass from Seamus Deely, banked in a 3-pointer from the left wing with 4.7 seconds to go to give the Wolves of Coach Brian Botteen their second consecutive title in this division.

Isaak, picking up his second consecutive Most Outstanding Player plaque, scored nine of his 17 points in the fourth quarter for the Wolves (12-3) while all-tourney choice Deely scored 19 points with 12 rebounds and five assists.

Dixie (10-2) got 23 points and 10 rebounds from center Kyle Lemke while point guard Jordan Roberts scored six points with eight assists.

DIAMOND

Gilbert (AZ) Ironwood 61, Lehi (UT) 57: Bracket Most Outstanding Player Noah Gifft scored 25 points as the Eagles held off the Eagles to come away with Classic hardware after losing in the Gold final a year ago.

Junior guard I’yar Shadowvine, an all-tournament selection, hit a critical 3 down the stretch for the Eagles (14-2) while senior guard Cooper Lewis led the Pioneers (9-2) with 25, including five 3s.

SILVER

Pasadena 66, San Gabriel Academy 62. Most Outstanding Player: Jovan Jestr (Pasadena).

BRONZE

Vista Murrieta 46, Bosco Tech 42. Most Outstanding Player: Brody Quinn (Vista Murrieta).

GREEN

Culver City 69, Diamond Bar 58. Most Outstanding Player: Keishawn Ross (Culver City).

COPPER

Cleveland 56, Huntington Beach 55. Most Outstanding Player: Kamari King (Cleveland/3-point shot at the buzzer for tourney title).

IRON

Western Christian 48, Diamond Ranch 38. Most Outstanding Player: J.J. Hooper (W.C.)

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