Canyon boys basketball rallies past Oak Park, earns first trip to Division 2A final
Canyon head coach Ali Monfared and his team celebrate their 55-48 win over Oak Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Canyon’s Solomon Sims, #1, and teammates celebrate their 55-48 win over Oak Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Oak Park’s Jadon Holmes, #24, pulls a rebound from Canyon’s Chigozie Osuji, #5, during second period action in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Canyon defeated Oak Park 55-48. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Oak Park’s Mateo Nicolas, #2, goes up for two points as Canyon’s Sean Hernandez, #25, defends on the play during first period action in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Canyon defeated Oak Park 55-48. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Canyon’s Isaac Yuhico, #23, looks for a pass around Oak Park’s Jadon Holmes, #24, during second period action in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Canyon defeated Oak Park 55-48. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Canyon’s Eric Kubel, #21, looses the ball to Oak Park’s Jadon Holmes, #24, during first period action in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Canyon defeated Oak Park 55-48. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Canyon’s Solomon Sims, #1, and Oak Park’s Cody Fleetwood, #1, go after a loose ball during second period action in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Canyon defeated Oak Park 55-48. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Canyon’s Sean Hernandez, #25, and fellow teammates celebrate their 55-48 win over Oak Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Canyon’s Isaac Yuhico, #23, pulls a rebound from Oak Park’s Cody Fleetwood, #1, during third period action in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Canyon defeated Oak Park 55-48. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Canyon’s Eric Kubel, #21, pulls in a rebound during third period action in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Canyon defeated Oak Park 55-48. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Oak Park’s Beau Prophete, #14, pulls a rebound from Canyon’s Solomon Sims, #1, during third period action in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Canyon defeated Oak Park 55-48. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Canyon’s Solomon Sims, #1, drives the ball down court as Oak Park’s Cody Fleetwood, #1, defends on the play during fourth period action in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Canyon defeated Oak Park 55-48. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Oak Park’s Jadon Holmes, #24, pulls a rebound from Canyon’s Eric Kubel, #21, during fourth period action in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Canyon defeated Oak Park 55-48. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Oak Park’s Jadon Holmes, #24, and Canyon’s Chinedum Osuji, #3, go for a rebound during third period action in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Canyon defeated Oak Park 55-48. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Canyon’s Isaac Yuhico, #23, passes the ball away as Oak Park’s Artin Lajevardi, #22, defends on the play during third period action in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Canyon defeated Oak Park 55-48. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Oak Park’s Mateo Nicolas, #2, tries to drive the ball downcourt as Canyon’s Solomon Sims, #1, defends on the play during second period action in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Canyon defeated Oak Park 55-48. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Oak Park’s Beau Prophete, #14, looses the ball as Canyon’s Solomon Sims, #1, and Sean Hernandez, #25, defend on the play Mateo Nicolas, #2, tries to drive the ball downcourt as Canyon’s Solomon Sims, #1, defends on the play during second period action in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Canyon defeated Oak Park 55-48. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Canyon’s Solomon Sims, #1, looks for a route around Oak Park’s Cody Fleetwood, #1, during third period action in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Canyon defeated Oak Park 55-48. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Canyon High fans celebrate as Canyon goes up by four points in the final seconds against Oak Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Canyon defeated Oak Park 55-48. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Canyon head coach Ali Monfared during fourth period action in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Canyon defeated Oak Park 55-48. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Oak Park’s Jonathan Plax, #21, drives the ball as Canyon’s Eric Kubel, #21, defends on the play during third period action in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Canyon defeated Oak Park 55-48. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
1 of 21
Canyon head coach Ali Monfared and his team celebrate their 55-48 win over Oak Park in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals at Canyon High on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
SANTA CLARITA — It took some time, but Canyon’s defense finally came to life in the second half.
Canyon trailed Oak Park 29-23 at halftime in a CIF Southern Section Division 2A boys basketball semifinal matchup Friday night.
The Cowboys switched up their defensive game plan, moving to a hybrid zone defense that threw the Eagles’ offense out of focus, limiting their scoring output to 19 points in the final two quarters.
Canyon’s offense fed on the spark its defense provided, leading to a 55-48 victory.
The win secured Canyon’s trip to the Division 2A championship game, the first in program history.
“I’m just really proud of these guys,” Canyon head coach Ali Monfared said. “I’m so proud to be their coach. They make me a better man. And that’s what you saw, was just my passion for these guys. And every day they come and I demand a lot of them and they just reciprocate the effort. And it’s been one of the most fun parts of my coaching career by far.”
The first quarter featured a battle between the leading scorers for Canyon and Oak Park, Eric Kubel and Jadon Holmes, respectively.
Kubel scored seven points in the opening frame and Holmes had eight points, as the teams went back and forth.
Oak Park took advantage of Canyon’s defensive stopper Chigozie Osuji picking up his third foul in the second quarter, leading to a 19-4 extended run that gave the Eagles a 10-point advantage at one point in the quarter.
That’s when Canyon’s defense kicked into high gear, forcing the Eagles into several turnovers to start the third quarter, and the Cowboys went on a 7-0 run to bring the score back into their favor.
Kubel and Isaac Yuhico took over in the fourth quarter, hitting three 3-pointers between the two of them and accounting for 13 of Canyon’s 18 points in the final frame.
The Cowboys also controlled the glass, limiting Oak Park’s second-chance opportunities.
“Well, the third quarter’s always our quarter, so we knew that once we turned up and once we got some buckets going, we knew our defense would pick us up,” Yuhico said. “All we needed to do was rebound and we got them boards.”
“We took away their best player, (Holmes), because all he was doing was going right, finishing at the rim,” Kubel said. “We took it away, clogged up the paint, and we pulled away.”
Kubel and Yuhico both scored 19 points a piece. Kubel added nine rebounds and Yuhico had three rebounds and three assists.
Holmes led Oak Park with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Eagles started the season 0-12 but turned their season around and won 10 of their next 15 games.
By reaching the semifinals, Oak Park qualified for the CIF State playoffs.
“In the moment, obviously, we’re disappointed,” Oak Park head coach Aaron Shaw said. “Hats off to Canyon. Played well, their seniors stepped up and hit some big shots. But kind of looking at the big picture for our group, we’ve just asked them to continue to compete and get better and grow as individuals and as a team. And they’ve done that. And I’m really proud of us.”
Canyon will play for the title against St. Bonaventure on Friday, Feb. 28, at the Toyota Arena in Ontario.
But for now, the Cowboys will enjoy the win and celebrate with a team brunch Saturday morning, before getting back to work Monday.
“We’ll enjoy it tonight and we’ll get back to work,” Monfared said “We’ll get as much film as we can and try to devour it and try to come up with a scouting report to hopefully give us one more win.”
