LAS VEGAS – It could be a preview of a February – or March – Open Division boys basketball playoff game in Southern California.
Even if that doesn’t prove the case, the Eastvale Roosevelt vs. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame clash at 4:30 Saturday afternoon in the Bishop Gorman gymnasium should be nothing short of a sizzling matchup between two of better teams in Southern California – and beyond.
It will also decide the winner of the Platinum Division of one of the country’s top pre-Christmas events, the 12th Tarkanian Classic.
Roosevelt (10-1) forced 16 turnovers and hit nine 3s in the first half against another quality SoCal-based team, Redondo Union, before withstanding a determined fourth-quarter rally by the Sea Hawks, 78-74, in the first of the Platinum semifinals Friday evening in the Orleans Hotel Arena.
In the second semi, Notre Dame (12-0) used another superb effort by its Terrific Trio of senior Lino Mark, junior Tyran Stokes and sophomore NaVorro Bowman, Jr., to hold off Layton Christian Academy of Utah, 73-60.
Saturday’s Platinum title game will pit the No.’s 2 (Roosevelt) and 3 (Notre Dame) squads in the BurlisonOnBasketball SoCal Top 30.
The 3 o’clock third-place game has Redondo Union (9-1 and No. 5 in the Top 30) playing Layton Christian Academy (5-3).
Like Roosevelt, those two programs are in the 16-team Platinum Division field of the Dec. 26-30 Classic at Damien.
The Roosevelt’s half-court defense – and the Sea Hawks’ harried play with the ball in their hands – led to the multiple turnovers that were turned into layups and open 3s by the Mustangs over the first 16 minutes.
Senior left-handed point guard Myles Walker (pictured) had a near-flawless first half in attacking the Redondo pressure and directing his team’s offense with 12 points (including 2 of 2 behind the arc), four assists, four steals and just one turnover.
The Mustangs’ advantage was 17 points going into the fourth quarter before Redondo’s defense – full- and half-court – became more effective and senior Hudson Mayes recovered from his wobbly first half.
The 6-foot-5 Mayes scored three points and committed seven turnovers (two of those on charges) before intermission but was both relentless and productive after, finishing with game-highs of 22 points (14 in the fourth quarter) and 11 rebounds.
But Walker and fellow seniors Issac Williamson (17 points and five 3s, three of those in the third quarter) and Brayden Burries (18 points, six rebounds, five assists and no turnovers) kept the Mustangs from ever getting into a position in which the Sea Hawks ha a chance tie the score or go ahead on a single position down the stretch.
Burries hit two highly contested shots and two free throws in the two minutes or so.
Senior Dominic Copenhagan (12 points, including a 3) and junior Jackson Haggins (10, and two 3s) also scored in double figures for the Mustangs.
Sophomore Chris Sanders added 20 for Redondo and like Mayes, was nine of 13 from the field.
Notre Dame’s defensive pressure sparked the offense that led to 31 points in the second quarter and a 15-point advantage at intermission with Layton Christian.
The Eagles closed to within six points with about six minutes to go in the fourth quarter before the Knights got back into sync and pulled away.
The 6-7 Stokes committed seven of his team’s 11 turnovers but scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Mark (six points but as many steals) and Bowman (a career-high for the second night in a row, with 20 points, and four steals) amped the defensive pressure that resulted in 25 turnovers.
Tyrin Jones (committed to UNLV) and Alan Gballou (Eastern Washington) of Layton Christian combined for 31 points and 16 rebounds but also had six turnovers apiece.
*Lawndale Leuzinger improved to 9-3 and earned a slot in Saturday’s 9 a.m. (in Bishop Gorman’s auxiliary gymnasium) BallerTV Division title game against Denver South with its 46-45 win over Cathedral Prep of Pennsylvania Friday at Silverado High.
Senior Malachi Knight scored all seven of the Olympians’ fourth-quarter points, including a free throw with .8 second to go for the winning point.
He is averaging 25.7 points per game in Las Vegas.
In other games played in the Orleans Hotel Arena Friday:
Platinum Fifth-place semifinals
Provo Timpview 63, L.V. Bishop Gorman 58 (OT): Six-eight junior Dean Rueckert had his third strong game in a row, with 25 points, seven rebounds and three assists, to help his team improve to 6-3.
Miami Riviera Beach Prep 70, Henderson Coronado 50: Sophomore guard Myles Fuentes had 16 points and four assists as the Bulldogs (8-1) bounced back from their seven-point loss to Roosevelt Thursday.
Nike Division semifinals
San Diego Montgomery 49, L.V. Sierra Vista 41: Foul issues limited 7-footer Xavion Staton to 21 minutes, three points, five rebounds and three blocked shots – which didn’t help the las Vegas team’s cause against the favorite to win the San Diego Section Open Division title this spring.
Neither team shot a quality percentage from the field as senior forward J.J. Sanchez led the winners (9-0) with 19 points while Devin Hamilton added 13 and a team-high eight rebounds.
Anthem (AZ) Boulder Creek 74, L.V. Mojave 59: The Rattlers were never closer in the second half than to within eight points in the fourth quarter.
Four Jaguars scored from 13 to 18 points, sophomore guard Mike Riordan leading the way on eight of 12 form the field (including two 3s) to go with eight rebounds and four assists.
Guard C.J. Shaw (who signed with UC Santa Barbara last month) led the team from Las Vegas with 19 points despite missing 17 of 24 shots from the field.
Saturday title game: Bishop Gorman, main gym, 1:30 p.m.
Spalding Division semifinals
Centennial (CO) Eaglecrest 65, Scottsdale (AZ) Notre Dame Prep 62: Evansville-bound guard Bryce Quinet nearly willed his team to a spot in Saturday’s title game.
But his 35-point performance (including 26 after intermission) wasn’t quite enough, as his 35-footer from in front of his bench was wide of the rim as the buzzer sound.
Junior forward La’Quince York (21 points, eight rebounds and three assists) and sophomore guard Kristopher Coleman (20, four and three) were terrific for the 7-1 Raptors while the Saints suffered their first loss in eight game.
South Jordan (UT) Bingham 74, North Tampa Christian 69: Juniors Luke West (18 points and five assists) and Lucas Neidig (16 points and five rebounds – four of them on the offensive end) helped their earn a spot in the finale with Eaglecrest Saturday.
North Tampa Christian also paced by a couple of juniors, 6-9 Toni Bryant (17 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots) and 6-5 Caleb Williams (22 points, three assists and three steals).
Saturday title game: Bishop Gorman main gym, noon.
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