St. John Bosco basketball holds off Sierra Canyon in physical CIF-SS Open Division playoff game

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers watches his son Bryce James (not pictured) of Sierra Canyon against St. John Bosco during a open division prep playoff basketball game at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

1 of 27

Pair of Big Bear bald eagle eggs show signs of hatching

Expand

BELLFLOWER — With LeBron and Bronny James in attendance amongst a sold-out crowd, St. John Bosco basketball’s Brandon McCoy Jr., Christian Collins and Elzie Harrington combined for 44 points to lead the Braves to a 60-55 win at home over Sierra Canyon in the CIF Southern Section Open Division playoffs Tuesday night.

As Bosco clung to a 52-51 lead, Harrington drove the lane and dished an assist to Collins for an energetic baseline dunk that put Bosco up 54-51 with 1:01 to go.

“I feel like it got us really hype and it gave us confidence that we were going to win this game,” Collins said. “We knew from the start we were going to win this game but that really sealed it all.”

McCoy, a junior guard, had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Collins, a junior forward, had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Harrington, a senior guard who is committed to USC, added 13 points and four rebounds.

“We played a great team but we’re also a great team so we pulled it out in the end,” McCoy said.

The Braves improved to 25-5 overall and 1-1 in the Open Division’s pool play, which kept them in contention to win Pool B and make it to the championship game March 1.

It was a bounce back win for the Braves after their 77-75 loss Friday at home to Redondo to begin Open Division play.

“It took a lot,” St. John Bosco coach Matt Dunn said. “I thought our fight and our competitiveness was really good. We didn’t necessarily play great, but I thought the guys really just fought. I was so proud of their effort and toughness, that was a great win.”

Woman hit by stray bullet in 2018 Trader Joe’s shooting settles suit with city of LA

Sierra Canyon (22-6, 2-1 Open Division) was led by junior forward Maximo Adams with 16 points (3 3-pointers) and six rebounds. Iona-committed senior guard Gavin Hightower added 10 points and five rebounds. Senior guard Bryce James (Arizona commit) had five points.

Sierra Canyon led 17-16 at the end of the first quarter. James was called for a technical foul while defending McCoy with 1:45 left in the first half. McCoy made one of two free throws to cut Sierra Canyon’s lead to 28-26. Bosco retained possesion and senior guard Chris Komin, who finished with seven points, drained a 3-pointer that put the Braves up 29-28.

The game was tied at 31 at halftime. Adams had eight points in the first half. Collins scored all seven of his first-half points in the second quarter.

“I just knew if I kept playing hard it was going to come eventually so I stayed the course,” Collins said.

McCoy’s back-to-back dunks put Bosco up 35-31 early in the third quarter.

“I think it gave us a lot of energy,” McCoy said. “When we’re hype, I think nobody is stopping us in the country, so me or anybody bringing a dunk, energy, that just means a lot to our team.”

Harrington’s mid-range jumper made it 37-31.

Led by Adams, the Trailblazers battled back, and his dunk late in the third cut Bosco’s lead to 43-41 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Braves stepped up their defensive intensity in the second half and held Sierra Canyon to a game-low 10 points in the third quarter.

Luka Doncic, LeBron James lead Lakers past Clippers for 5th straight win

Both teams traded baskets for the majority of the fourth. Adams’ 3-pointer put Sierra Canyon up 44-43 early in the fourth. Harrington’s layup put Bosco back up 45-44. Sierra Canyon senior guard Jayden Alexander, who finished with eight points, made two free throws that put the Trailblazers up 46-45 with 5:06 left in the game.

McCoy’s spinning bank shot put Bosco up 47-46. Sierra Canyon freshman guard Jordan Mize’s layup gave his team a 48-47 advantage. Harrington responded with another layup to take a 49-48 lead. Komin was fouled and made both free throws to go up 51-48 with 2:40 to go.

The 6-foot-8 Adams drained another 3-pointer, his third of the game, which tied it at 51.

McCoy banked in one of two free throws to go up 52-51 with two minutes remaining.

Collins’ dunk put Bosco up 54-51. Komin blocked Alexander’s layup to preserve Bosco’s 54-51 lead with 36.7 seconds to go.

However, Bosco turned the ball over on an inbounds pass with 35.4 to go. Harrington made another big play, this time stealing the ball. McCoy was fouled and made one of two free throws to extend Bosco’s advantage to 55-51 with 29.3 to go. Collins collected McCoy’s miss for a big offensive rebound. Harrington was fouled and made one of two free throws to go up 56-51.

Hightower’s layup cut it to 56-53. Harrington was fouled with 11.4 to go. The USC commit made both free throws to push Bosco’s lead to 58-53.

Adams missed a 3-pointer. Collins was fouled with 4.1 seconds to go and he made both free throws to give Bosco a 60-53 lead.

Hightower made a layup as time expired and Bosco had a 60-55 victory.

“That’s what we’re built for,” McCoy said. “We pulled it out.”

Bosco lost 72-67 to Sierra Canyon in the Open Division playoffs last season.

No. 6 seed Sierra Canyon will play at No. 2 seed Eastvale Roosevelt (29-2, 2-0 Open Division) on Friday.

No. 3 seed Bosco will host No. 10 seed Heritage Christian (25-5, 0-2 Open Division) on Friday. The Braves beat Heritage Christian 52-43 in a nonleague game of The Classic at Damien tournament on Dec. 27.

(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)

Related Posts

Declutter your shed with these top garden tool organizers

Best men’s fairway wood

USPS agrees to work with DOGE on reform, planning to cut 10,000 workers

Leave a Reply Cancel reply