CAMPBELL — There were more than a few ebbs and flows in this one. Christopher trailed by six at halftime and by five in overtime before pulling out a 61-59 victory over Westmont on Jaxen Robinson’s bucket, which rolled around the rim and hung there for a long moment before falling through the net, with four seconds left in OT.
“It was going all the way around forever,” Robinson said. “It really freaked me out for a second.”
The teams went into the game tied for first place in the Blossom Valley Athletic League’s Mt. Hamilton Division. Christopher (15-2, 5-0) now sits at the top of the standings alone after winning on Westmont’s home court for the second time this season.
Christopher found success by going to the big guy. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound Robinson, headed to Northern Arizona on a football scholarship to play quarterback, had only two points at halftime. But he single-handedly turned the game around by scoring the first 10 points of the second half on five nearly identical right-side post-up shots. Suddenly a 26-20 deficit was turned into a 30-26 lead.
His basket to begin the fourth quarter gave the visitors a seemingly comfortable 10-point lead at 45-35. But a 10-1 run with Jacob Froman and Seth Reese scoring five points each brought the Warriors within one. Ben Rivera scored in close with nine seconds left off a pass from Reese to tie it, 52-52.
Reese hit a 3 and Froman made two foul shots at the beginning of the overtime period to put Westmont up five. But Christopher scored the next seven on a 3 by Ebuka Okeke, a basket by Robinson down low and a layup off a steal by Quinn Ledesma Old-Elk. Reese’s fall away jumper tied it and set the stage for Robinson’s game-winner.
Christopher made up for 3-of-9 foul shooting by making 26 field goals to 19 for Westmont, which went 12-of-14 at the free-throw line.
Christopher has fared well the last few years with a 72-28 overall record under Adam Sax, formerly of Palo Alto, Piedmont Hills and Amador Valley, now in his fourth season coaching at the Gilroy school.
“Our six seniors have been playing together since fifth grade, third grade,” said Robinson, who finished with a game-high 20 points. “This year we’re really focusing on winning league first and then the CCS championships. Taking it one step at a time.”
Trey Caragio added 14 points, making four 3-pointers for Christopher, which also defeated Westmont Dec. 6 in the championship game of the Westmont Tournament, 67-55.
Gabe Matthiesen led Westmont (13-4, 4-1) with 17 points, 14 in the first half. Froman scored 16 and Reese 15.
“We made some mistakes we hadn’t been making, mistakes that led to easy baskets,” Westmont coach John Franza said. “Our goal as a team is to get better every game. I’m not doubting our team’s toughness. We play hard.”
Westmont will try to return the favor with a win on the Christopher home court Feb 14.
“We’ve got a lot to look forward to,” Franza said.
