San Diego’s best on display at Mission Bay High

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SAN DIEGO – The programs expected to play in the CIF San Diego Section’s Open championship game were among the 14 teams that took part in Saturday’s Battle at the Bay at Mission Bay High.

Top-ranked and 24-2 Montgomery – which lost to Carlsbad in the 2024 title game – overcame a five-point deficit early in the second quarter and pulled away from San Diego, 65-49.

And Carlsbad – which knocked off the Aztecs in the Open finale a year ago and took Harvard-Westlake to the wire in a State Southern Regional semifinal – toppled Chula Vista Olympian, 65-58, in the final game of the evening.

In between those clashes, the host Buccaneers (19-7) defeated Mira Mesa (21-5), 61-55.

Six-foot-four Devin Hamilton (pictured), likely the most explosive athlete in the section’s senior class, led Coach Ed Martin’s Aztecs with 22 points (hitting 10 of 14 from the field and both free throws) and 12 rebounds.

Two other seniors, guard Xair Mendez (17 points, with two 3s) and forward J.J. Sanchez (14 points, with two 3s, four assists and four rebounds) also scored in double figures for the Aztecs, who came into the game No. 1 in the section.

Senior guard Isaiah Marte scored 22 points for San Diego (21-5), No. 11 in the section.

Carlsbad (20-5) saw its lead trimmed to a point before senior Jett Kenady responded with 3 from the left wing with 4:30 remaining.

UC San Diego-bound, 6-3 Jake Hall led the Lancers with 23 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Junior Jordan Walker, Jr. paced the Eagles (20-5) with 17 points.

In Mission Bay’s win, junior guard Caleb Newton scored a game-high 24 points – 14 of those in the second quarter, including a couple of 3s while hitting his first six shots – to help the hosts lead throughout.

Senior forward Pablo Balderas added 17 points and eight rebounds for Coach Marshawn Cherry’s crew.

In the third game of the day, the El Cajon Christian Patriots improve to 20-5 by way of their 54-46 win over University City.

Six-four junior JuJu LeBel  scored 26 points for the winners.

LeBel and Newton are expected to be teammates on the San Diego-based Gamepoint 17s club team this spring and summer.

There is one week remaining in the San Diego Section’s regular season.

In other games played Saturday:

*Chula Vista Victory Christian 62, Carlsbad Sage Creek 52: Freshman guard Troy Tominna scored 21 points and junior Isaiah Owens added 17 for the 14-12 Knights. Six-seven Elijah Stephens – one of the best unsigned seniors in the region – had 16 points and seven rebounds for Sage Creek (16-7).

*Spring Valley Steele Canyon 62, San Marcos St. Joseph Academy 46: Huston Adair scored 18 points to help the Cougars improve to 16-9 with their seventh win in a row. Justice Ahiafor scored 15 points for the 8-17 Crusaders.

*Helix 63, Scripps Ranch 60: In the day’s first game, pitting teams with a combined record of 18-32, junior guard Sergio Vazquez scored 18 points to lead the late and great Bill Walton’s alma mater to the victory.